“Investment research firm Morningstar is eyeing a headquarters move to the Thompson Center, the high-profile office building designed by Helmut Jahn that Google is redeveloping in Chicago.

“Morningstar is in talks to lease almost 300,000 square feet on upper floors of the 17-story building at 100 W. Randolph St. in the heart of the Loop business district, according to people familiar with the situation. Negotiations to lease the space from Google aren’t complete and could fall apart.

“Keeping Morningstar near its current office at 22 W. Washington St. also would be a win for the central part of the Loop, which has been hit hard in recent years by defections of large tenants to new skyscrapers along the Chicago River and other parts of the city.

“It would allow Google to collect rent on a piece of the approximately 1.2 million-square-foot building, offsetting some of its significant costs to redevelop and own the high-profile property, while still maintaining room for Google to continue growing. Google currently has large blocks of space in two Fulton Market neighborhood buildings.

“The company founded by Chicago billionaire Joe Mansueto later resumed its search for new office space in downtown Chicago, eventually zeroing in on the Thompson Center, one of the most closely watched redevelopments in the country — and in the city’s history.

“CoStar News first reported Google’s deal to buy the Chicago building in 2022, and the tech company confirmed the agreement about a month later.

“Two local developers, Mike Reschke’s Prime Group and Quintin Primo’s Capri Investment Group, are overseeing initial phases of the redevelopment, with Google set to then buy the property and take over final phases of construction.

“The project has been closely watched in Chicago and nationally for several reasons, including Google’s involvement. (Ori, CoStar News, 4/21/26)

“Critics of the building completed in 1985 viewed it as too quirky, with its former salmon and light blue exterior color scheme, and inefficient to operate. Proponents, who fought for several years to have the Thompson Center spared from demolition, see the building as an important example of the work of Jahn, the German-born, Chicago-based architect who died in 2021. (Ori, CoStar News, 4/21/26)

“Google said in an email that it expects interior construction to continue through 2027, with hopes to move in later that year. The tech giant is slated to bring about 2,000 employees to its new Chicago headquarters. (Mercado, Block Club Chicago, 3/17/26)

The Thompson Center was a Preservation Chicago 7 Most Endangered in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The preservation advocacy effort was long and challenging, but ultimately proved to be highly worthwhile. The building is being fully comprehensively modernized and will become a home to Google.

Governor Thompson wanted the State of Illinois Building (later renamed the Thompson Center) to stimulate the Central Loop in the early 1980’s. Thanks to a long and successful preservation campaign, and visionary developers and decision makers, 40 years later, the Thompson Center as Google HQ will again have a huge beneficial impact on the Central Loop.

From ‘Impossible to Inevitable,’ the Thompson Center reuse is a perfect example of the incredible power of preservation to generate economic development.

Read the full story at CoStar Chicago

• Morningstar targets Google’s Chicago Thompson Center redevelopment for future home, Companies are in talks over leasing part of Helmut Jahn-designed building, Ryan Ori, CoStar News, 4/21/26
• Morningstar may move into Chicago’s Thompson Center after Google renovations, Adam Harrington and Jessica Popowcer, CBS Chicago, 4/23/26
• Morningstar to lease big chunk of Loop’s Thompson Center from Google; Billionaire Joe Mansueto’s firm in talks for technology giant’s redevelopment of Chicago’s former state government HQ, TRD Staff, 4/21/26
• Thompson Center Will Keep Its Name, With Google Planning A 2027 Move-In
  Leasing is now open for retail and office space in the iconic Loop building, which will serve as the tech giant’s new Chicago headquarters for 2,000 workers, Melody Mercado, Block Club Chicago, 3/17/26
• Thompson Center website 
• Inside Google’s $280 Million Plan to Save a Chicago Landmark (12:48), MegaBuilds, 2/27/26
• Google makes progress on Chicago headquarters with windows update; The new exterior glass is expected to help keep the building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. But it certainly changes the structure’s look and feel,  Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times, 8/22/25
• Google’s high-profile renovation of iconic Chicago building gives new look to heart of city; Tech giant’s Thompson Center project drives conversations about downtown, Ryan Ori CoStar News, 7/16/25
• Redeveloped Thompson Center will offer public gathering spaces, new renderings released by Google show, Brian Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 11/1/24
• New Google rendering gives an early glimpse of former Thompson Center atrium’s future; The rendering obtained by the Sun-Times is the first look Google has provided of its vision for the remade interior of the Helmut Jahn-designed icon,  Lee Bey, Chicago Sun Times, 10/31/24