Uber expands its headquarters at Chicago’s Old Post Office

After discussions in May and news confirmed by the Chicago Tribune in August, the mayor’s office announced that Uber will open its second largest office in the Old Main Post Office on Monday.

The company’s new Uber Freight headquarters will bring more than 2,000 jobs and $200 million in workforce and real estate investments to the city, the mayor’s office said. Uber signed a 10-year lease for a 450,000-square-feet space in the 601W-owned building. It will be the massive project’s largest tenant and the biggest new deal in downtown Chicago, the Tribune reported.

Uber is set to hire the majority of its team at the beginning of 2020 and will partner with the city to hire people from all communities and contribute a community impact fund.

“We are honored to be the first recipient of Uber Technologies’ Community Impact Initiative grant. With these funds, we will decrease transportation barriers for people seeking work. Additionally, we are pleased to serve as a source of untapped and diverse talent for the 2,000 jobs with Uber Freight,” said Karin M. Norington-Reaves, CEO Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership in a statement. “Whether in information technology, logistics, distribution or professional services, our clients have the drive and ability to successfully contribute to Uber’s labor force.”

Walgreens was the Post Office’s first major tenant with 200,000-square feet which was announced last year.

Uber told the Tribune in March it was looking to consolidate workers from Uber Freight (its fastest-growing branch) with employees from Uber Ride and Uber Eats. Chicago’s central location makes it a logistics hub, ideal for the company’s Uber Freight arm, which is why its Chicago office was the second largest outside of San Francisco.

The company has grown incredibly fast, it started with a 5,000-square-foot lease in Fulton Market five years ago, the Tribune said. Previously, it shared just under 200,000 square feet at 225 W. Randolph Street and 111 N. Canal Street.

Within the same announcement, Uber said it would add a new transit feature to its app. Similar to a move Lyft made, Uber’s app will now allow users to see public transit routes and walking directions that will get them to their destination along with departure and arrival times.