Google Unveils Redesigned Thompson Center in Chicago with Public Art and Community Partnerships

Google has shared new design renderings for its redevelopment of the iconic James R. Thompson Center building in Chicago. The tech giant first announced plans to buy the building in 2022, with a goal of transforming it into a center of work and community for the next generation of Chicagoans.

The new designs aim to create an inspiring space that offers unique amenities for the Loop, including a monumental architectural conversion, an activated atrium and plaza, and quality food and retail options. The Thompson Center will also feature a curated mix of public art, including a 30-foot-tall sculpture by artist Sanford Biggers.

Biggers' sculpture, titled Vector, reimagines traditional quilt patterns as a hyper-dynamic, tilted accordion structure that offers spaces for interaction and gathering. The installation incorporates Illinois history into the glazed terracotta tile patterns, including historic 19th-century quilts from collections at the Illinois State Museum and Chicago History Museum.

Google is also partnering with local youth organizations to support the next generation of Chicagoans both inside and outside the classroom. The company will provide $1 million in funding to A Better Chicago in support of 'Every Day Counts,' a new citywide initiative that aims to strengthen student belonging and reduce chronic absenteeism in Chicago by 50% over the next five years.