Old Post Office lands another tenant, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Chicago is reportedly in discussions to lease approximately 125,000 square feet in Chicago’s Old Post Office. New-York-based 601W Companies is in the midst of an $800 million renovation on the 2.8 million-square-foot, Art Deco building, with the first tenants scheduled to move in by September.

According to a report in Crain’s, the Chicago FHLB is looking to relocate from its current offices in the Aon Center. This lease, which comes just one day after reports of tech firm Uber looking to move into the massive building, would be an expansion for the government-sponsored bank as it now occupies about 96,000 square feet in the Aon Center.

Steve Smith, Jamey Dix and Daniel Heckman of The Telos Group are the brokerage team tasked with bringing tenants to the rejuvenated property. Firms that have confirmed leases in the building include Walgreens, Ferrara Candy, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, AbelsonTaylor and Kroger subsidiaries Home Chef and 84.51°. If the deals with Uber and FHLB Chicago move forward as reported, the Old Post Office would have more than 1 million square feet of office space pre-leased.

601W Companies acquired the iconic property in 2016 and tapped architecture firm Gensler to draw up a vision for the building’s second life, including the addition of a food hall, a new riverwalk and a 3.5-acre, tenant-accessible rooftop. Construction on second-floor amenities that include a fitness center, lounges and a conference space are on track for a June completion.