Google plans to transform the 17-story atrium inside the James R. Thompson Center into a comfortable public space open to Loop office workers and other visitors, according to renderings released by the internet giant.
The old food court will be replaced by a terraced green space and a set of new cafes, restaurants and retail. Another gathering place on the second floor just above the terraces will look out on the Randolph Street entrance and renovated plaza.
Reconstruction of the 1.2 million-square-foot structure began last spring, and the company plans to move into the building in 2026.
Keeping the historic atrium open to the public is good news for the rest of the Loop and may help preserve architect Helmut Jahn’s original vision. He saw it as a democratic gathering space, a centerpiece for downtown Chicago. The area now struggles with a high vacancy rate, and many property owners hope Google, which nearly a decade ago transformed the Fulton Market warehouse district into a sleek high-tech neighborhood, will provide the Loop with a new focal point, and revive its office market.
The future Randolph Street plaza also looks more inviting. Another rendering shows Google wants to replace that mostly empty space with trees, flowers, other plants and seating.
Prime | Capri Interests, a venture led by Chicago developers Michael Reschke and Quintin Primo, bought the Thompson Center in 2022 from the state of Illinois for $105 million. Google then agreed to take it over after the duo completes the renovation.
Workers are also replacing the building’s glass facade with triple-paned glass, which will let in more natural light, cut energy use and reduce bird collisions. The Thompson Center’s train station at 100 W. Lake St., where six Chicago Transit Authority lines converge, will remain open throughout construction.
Historic preservationists say they’re thrilled Google and the development team came up with a plan to save the building, which for years seemed a likely candidate for demolition. But they are concerned because the renderings show several features — including the building’s futuristic color scheme and Jahn’s ground floor mosaic, designed to mirror the ceiling of a state capitol dome — could be lost.
“The renderings show the building would be painted in more neutral colors, but its beautiful industrial red was what allowed it to sing and pop,” said Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago. “These are important aspects of the building we should try to save.”
