Google's Thompson Center renovation reveals sleek new facade

The Thompson Center in downtown Chicago is taking on a fresh look as part of a major renovation led by architecture studio Jahn for tech giant Google. Recent photos show the nearly completed facade, marking a significant transformation of the iconic post-modern building originally designed by Helmut Jahn in the 1980s.

## A Modern Update for a Post-Modern Landmark

The building, once home to the Illinois state government and named after former governor James R Thompson, was at risk of demolition after being put up for sale in 2015. In 2022, Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., acquired the structure and commissioned a full renovation to turn it into Google's Chicago headquarters. The upper floors will house office space, while the lower levels will feature shops and restaurants.

The renovation includes a sleek, triple-glazed curtain wall that replaces the original darkened patterned glass, enhancing the building's environmental performance. While earlier renderings suggested a transparent facade, the new design appears to have a reflective finish. Below the glass, a concrete and brass colonnade has replaced the original red and beige stone finishes.

## Preserving and Reimagining the Atrium

One of the building's most distinctive features, the 17-story central atrium, is also undergoing a major overhaul. Renderings show a stepped, circular space that will be open to the public, featuring restaurants, cafes, and workspaces. The renovation is expected to wrap up in 2027, at which point the building will be renamed from the James R Thompson Center to simply the Thompson Center.

The project holds special significance as it is the most famous work of Helmut Jahn, a long-time Chicago resident who passed away in a bicycle accident in 2021 at the age of 81. The photography of the renovation is by Tom Ravenscroft.