Google reveals latest Thompson Center plans
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Rendering: Courtesy of Pixelflakes for Google
Chicagoans are getting a fresh look at Google's transformation of the Thompson Center in the Loop.
Why it matters: The latest renderings reimagine the Thompson Center as an inviting downtown anchor, an attractive place for workers to meet and linger. Google also revealed its commitment to retaining elements of Helmut Jahn's design.
Flashback: Google announced plans to purchase the Thompson Center in 2022 for $105 million.
Catch up quick: The State of Illinois Center opened in 1985 as a downtown office for state workers. It was renamed in 1993 for Illinois' longest-serving governor, James R. Thompson.
- Over the decades, the building fell into disrepair.
- Workers and visitors complained about inconsistent heating and cooling from single-paned windows. Smells from fast food restaurants in the basement wafted up the 17 stories and permeated offices, adding to workers' discomfort.
State of play: When Google first announced plans to buy the building, admirers worried whether the postmodern "People's Palace," as some preservationists call it, would retain the integrity of Jahn's design.
- Critics who had complained about "the spaceship" pushed for its demolition.
The latest: The new renderings show a cascading staircase with terraced seating and retail shops around the 17-story atrium.
- Google promises to bring "a curated mix of quality food, distinctive retail, and space for seasonal events" rather than just a thoroughfare on the way to the L, Google's Mike Miller said in a blog post Wednesday.
In a nod to Chicago's dedication to public art, Google commissioned artist Sanford Biggers, a School of the Art Institute graduate, to create a new sculpture at the Randolph Street entrance.
- "Vector," the 30-foot-tall sculpture, reimagines traditional quilt patterns, including those from historic 19th-century quilts at the Illinois State Museum and Chicago History Museum, into sleek, geometric shapes.
Zoom in: Google is partnering with After School Matters to bring in teens for a 10-week program that culminates in a large-scale artwork in the atrium.
What's next: Google plans to reopen the Thompson Center to the public in 2028.