1K Fulton is a transformative adaptive reuse and expansion project that converted 

a historic 1919 cold storage warehouse into Google’s Chicago headquarters while 

introducing a complementary new office building to support the growing Fulton 

Market district. Working closely with Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, the contractor, 

and ownership team, Forefront Structural Engineers developed structural solutions 

that balanced preservation of the existing structure with the demands of a modern 

technology workplace.

The original ten story cold storage building presented unique challenges due to its 

thermally isolated perimeter framing system and heavy industrial construction. 

Forefront led the structural modifications necessary to decommission the cold storage 

facility and reposition the building for contemporary office use. The project included 

the integration of new elevator cores, mechanical systems, rooftop amenities, and sub 

basement parking, all while carefully adapting the existing structure to meet modern 

performance and occupancy requirements. Adjacent to the historic building, Forefront 

designed a new seven story office structure featuring ground floor retail, below grade 

parking, and a connective link that seamlessly integrates the old and new buildings 

into a cohesive campus environment. The completed project serves as a model for 

adaptive reuse, demonstrating how historic industrial structures can be reimagined to 

support the next generation of workplace environments while preserving the character 

and history of the surrounding neighborhood.