“Google’s plan is ‘light-years from the demolition discussions of the past,’ Preservation Chicago executive director Ward Miller said.
“‘In general, it’s wonderful to see the Thompson Center’s overall form, its 17-story atrium and plaza concept all retained, so that’s all very good,’ Miller said. We believe this is heading in a good direction, but hoping there are many refinements to come.”‘ (Bey, Chicago Sun-Times, 12/13/23)
“The James R. Thompson Center will undergo a floor-by-floor gut rehab beginning early next year, but the building will retain its atrium while also opening up the base of the structure to retail, according to renderings released by Google Wednesday. Google will occupy the Loop icon once the renovation of the building is complete.
“Historic preservationists who fought to save the Helmut Jahn-designed building from the wrecking ball praised the development team for its plan to preserve the 17-story atrium.
“‘This design looks very different from the initial schematics we saw a year ago,’ said Ward Miller, executive director of the nonprofit Preservation Chicago. ‘That’s to be commended, and I think it’s wonderful the atrium is to be saved. My hat’s off to Google and the developers for taking on this project and committing to not demolishing the building and rethinking it as a corporate headquarters.’
“A venture led by Chicago developers Michael Reschke and Quintin Primo bought the Thompson Center in 2022 from the state of Illinois for $105 million, and Google agreed to take it over after the renovation is complete in several years.
“The developers will replace the building’s glass facade, and renderings show a new glass curtain that lets in more natural light, a new public plaza with trees and spaces for food and beverage retailers, and covered terraces on the first three levels of the southeast side.
“‘With more natural light, access to green space, and biophilic design elements that borrow from nature, the original design’s ode to transparency and openness will live on,’ said Karen Sauder, Google’s Chicago site leader, in a statement.
“Gov. J.B. Pritzker has high hopes Google’s outpost in the heart of downtown will bolster Chicago’s reputation as technology leader.
“‘When I became governor, I promised to serve as our state’s chief marketing officer — touting the many attributes Illinois has to offer for families and businesses alike,’ Pritzker said in a statement. ‘Well, there’s no doubt that the world is taking note — especially with businesses like Google expanding in Chicago.’
“Google has not shared many details about what the interior will look like, how it plans to use the 1.3 million square feet, or whether it will still be called the Thompson Center.
“Miller is urging the developers to preserve other historic aspects, including Jahn’s palette of colors, and the spiral tile design at the atrium’s base, meant to resemble the ceiling of a state capitol dome.
“‘It’s a wonderful optical illusion,’ he said. ‘The building may not have been maintained well, but it’s a true work of art.’ (Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 12/13/23)
Read the full story at the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times
- Google to reconstruct Thompson Center starting early next year, but will keep atrium, Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 12/13/23
- Google releases new renderings of planned Thompson Center makeover; The renovation would keep the atrium and have a more transparent facade and a new plaza. But we need to see more, architecture critic Lee Bey writes, Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times, 12/13/23
- Google releases renderings of Thompson Center headquarters reconstruction, Rob Hughes ABC 7 Chicago, 12/13/23
- Google Unveils New Rendering of Thompson Center Renovation, Says the Atrium is Staying, Patty Wetli, WTTW Chicago, 12/13/23
- Google Provides First Look at Plans for Chicago’s Thompson Center; Tech Giant Unveils Renderings 18 Months After Striking Deal To Buy Downtown Building, Ryan Ori, CoStar, 12/13/23
- Kaegi values Thompson Center at $223M; Tax assessment more than double what Mike Reschke and Quintin Primo paid for it, The Read Deal Staff, The Real Deal, 12/15/23
- Details Revealed For Thompson Center Redevelopment, Ian Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 12/14/23
- Review: Google’s ‘new’ Thompson Center and the perils of 21st-century architectural preservation, Edward Keegan, Crain’s Chicago Business, 12/14/23
- A first look at the plans for our new Chicago office; See how we’ll update the iconic Thompson Center building in Chicago’s Loop to be more sustainable and pay homage to the building’s original design. Karen Sauder, Google Blog, 12/12/23
- Google gives first look at its plans for Chicago’s James R. Thompson Center; Daniel Roche, The Architect’s Newspaper, 12/13/23
- Here’s A Look At The Thompson Center’s New Design; Google plans to start construction on the center in early 2024, Monique Mulima, Block Club Chicago, 12/13/23
- Scoop: Thompson Center demolition to begin in February, Carrie Shepherd, Axios Chicago, 12/8/23
- The Fifth Edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial Envisions the City as a Sprawling Work in Progress, Matt Hickman, Architectural Record, November 2023
- Demolition of Thompson Center facade, atrium for Google makeover approved by city; The $6 million demolition isn’t a complete surprise, but it possibly means the end of the building’s current blue, salmon and white color scheme, one of its signature features, Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/17/23
- The Case for Saving Postmodernism, Architecture’s Wildest Buildings; Many of the playful designs in the 1980s and ’90s in the US and UK are now aging and threatened with demolition. Can these architectural oddities be preserved? Brock Keeling, Bloomberg CityLab, 11/12/23
- Thompson Center demolition permit approved in step toward Google’s remodeling, Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 10/18/23
- Permit issued to demolish Thompson Center facade, The issuance is the latest sign of progress on the redevelopment, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 10/20/23
- Thompson Center Renovation Receives First Permit In The Loop, Jack Crawford, Chicago YIMBY, 10/17/23
- Google’s Expansion in Chicago Begins with Thompson Center Overhaul, Sparking Preservation Concerns, Richard Sullivan, Hoodline, 10/19/23Thompson Center’s Atrium, Facade To Be Demolished; Google is expected to turn the building into offices for its workers, Kelly Bauer, Block Club Chicago, 10/18/23
- Thompson Center, luckily, shows up in Google’s search for office space, The sale bodes well for the Thompson Center, but also for a downtown that’s still staggering from the pandemic and needs all the help, energy — and new office workers — it can get, Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, 7/27/22
- Google to the rescue for the Loop; The company’s plan to occupy and eventually purchase a revamped Thompson Center is an inflection point in the Loop’s sluggish comeback from COVID-19, Danny Ecker, Crain’s Chicago Business, 7/27/22
- Google’s plan to take over Thompson Center a shot in the arm for downtown Chicago and for Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Dan Petrella and Brian Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 7/27/22
- Starship Chicago II, a film by Nathan Eddy