Google Unveils Revised Renderings for Chicago's Thompson Center Renovation

Google has released new renderings for its ongoing renovation project at Chicago's Thompson Center. The latest designs differ from previous ones shared in 2024, which showed a mosaic inscribed into the floor as removed. In contrast, the current renderings show the mosaic intact, albeit with some modifications.

The renovations also include plans to commission artist Sanford Biggers to design a permanent artwork for the Thompson Center's plaza. The sculpture, titled Vector, is inspired by historic 19th-century quilts and will rise 30 feet tall, consisting of glazed terracotta tile patterns.

Architecture Plus Information, a New York firm, is designing the interior spaces, including an expanded central opening beneath the 17-story central atrium. A 'cascading staircase' will be built that integrates with retail and terraced seating.