Scoop: Thompson Center demolition to begin in February
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Exterior of the Thompson Center. Photo: Carrie Shepherd/Axios
Demolition on parts of the James R. Thompson Center will begin early next year.
Why it matters: The former State of Illinois building is a darling for historic preservationists who have argued Helmut Jahn's original design of the postmodern "spaceship" glass structure, accented by salmon and blue hues, should be restored.
Driving the news: A spokesperson for developer The Prime Group tells Axios that demolition is set to begin in February and is expected to take about two years.
Catch up fast: The state sold the Thompson Center — which once housed thousands of state workers — in March 2022 to The Prime Group after the building fell into more than $300 million worth of disrepair.
- Google announced in July 2022 that it intended to buy the building “upon future renovations.”
- The city issued a demolition permit for the building in October.
Zoom in: The permit covers nearly all necessary improvements identified by The Prime Group, with exception to the steel and concrete structure. It will be a gut rehab, but the building shape and scale and atrium will remain intact, the spokesperson says.
- The building will also get a new, modern glass shell to improve energy efficiency.
What they're saying: Google is mum about the tech giant's next steps, and a spokesperson would only point to a 2022 blog post stating it expects to occupy the Thompson Center starting in 2026.
The other side: Preservationists who have pushed for the Thompson Center to stay true to its original concept have mixed feelings about what's next.
- "The fact that it will not be demolished [completely] and has been saved is a broad win for preservation and for our environment," Elizabeth Blasius tells Axios.
Yes, but: "It seems very unlikely that the renovated building will resemble the Thompson Center outside of its iconic shape," Blasius adds. The Prime Group spokesperson would not comment on any specifics of the design.
The intrigue: The public has only a few more weeks to check out the interior before renovations begin. The building is hosting exhibits for this year's Architecture Biennial until Dec. 31.
What's next: The approximately 500 remaining state employees who still work in the building will be relocated to other offices in the Loop by year-end, a state spokesperson tells Axios.
- A CTA spokesperson tells Axios there are no planned closings for the Clark/Lake station at the Thompson Center.
