Google Saves Iconic Thompson Center from Demolition
Chicago's Thompson Center, a postmodern architectural landmark designed by Helmut Jahn and completed in 1985, has been saved from demolition. Google announced its redevelopment plans on September 16, 2026, partnering with Architecture Plus Information (A+I) to integrate the building into Chicago's urban life.
The Thompson Center was commissioned by Illinois Governor James R. Thompson and features a multicolored, curved glass atrium and a sloping, transparent corner entry. The building has been criticized for poor climate control, high maintenance costs, and structural issues.
Roughly 30 years after its opening, the state officials floated selling the site to free up valuable downtown Loop land. However, architecture critics, preservationists, and organizations campaigned to save it, arguing it was a significant work of postmodern architecture that deserved landmark protection rather than demolition.