Initial plans have been revealed for the new Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on the southern half of the former South Works site. Located on the intersection of S DuSable Lake Shore Drive and E 87th Street, the campus was announced this week after a multi-state selection process. Anchoring the complex will be California-based PsiQuantum.
Historic view of South Works via Springs
The 430-acre site was the former home of one of the world’s largest steel mills owned by US Steel. However after it was shut down and mostly demolished, the lakefront property has struggled to execute any redevelopment due to its size, cost, environmental factors, and massive concrete walls that could not be demolished.
Site plan of previous redevelopment plan by Barcelona Housing Systems
Now after over 30 years since its closing, the state and city have announced the campus which will be partially funded through public money and tax incentives. Occupying 128 acres on the southern end of the site, the project is being led by Related Midwest and designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative.
Site context map of Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park via Google Maps
At its center will be a 300,000-square-foot structure housing the world’s largest quantum computer, with a capability of one million qubits. Qubits are the basic unit of quantum computers which rely on quantum mechanics to solve complex problems faster than any supercomputer. It is worth noting that the current largest quantum computers max out around 1,000 qubits.
Rendering of Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park by LJC
Once completed, this will be the nation’s first utility scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer which companies could pay to use. PsiQuantum is also building a similar smaller facility in Australia. In order to support such an intensive operation, the facility will also require a large cryogenic cooling plant to keep temperatures around absolute zero.
Rendering of Australian facility via PsiQuantum
Surrounding this will also be multiple office and research buildings around a central park, while new green spaces will also be built throughout. This will be used as a quantum proving ground in collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Argonne and Fermi labs, as well as multiple universities across the state.
Rendering of quantum computing unit via PsiQuantum
With a total cost of $9 billion to build out, the state has earmarked $500 million in its 2025 budget for it. This includes $140 million for the proving grounds to match DARPA’s investment, and $200 million for the cooling plant. The state and city have also agreed to an additional $500 million in incentives over the next 30 years, in exchange for a minimum of $1 billion in investments from PsiQuantum.
Current view of South Works via Park District
The center is expected to attract more than $20 billion in further investments over the next few years. However locals worry that they will be left out of the equation as many of the jobs will require specialized PhDs, they also worry of the environmental impacts of the lakefront facility. A recent city meeting for the project was also canceled last minute according to Block Club.
If all approvals are granted, developers hope to start construction in 2026 with Clayco serving as the contractor. There will still be over 300 acres of land left to develop after this initial phase of the campus is complete.
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Time to drive these people away so we can preserve our toxic site just the way it is!
Please let this actually get built!
It would be great if we could get some transit over there so that people could reach these jobs without the need to have a car. In parts of Europe, industrial zones can be reached by people without a car. This has a suburban office park vibe to it that is unfortunate given its proximity to density. I’m glad it’s coming and I hope that transit can be integrated into this scheme to allow for a larger worker base.
Agreed, I toured the Mercedes world headquarters in Germany’s “Detroit” (Stuggart) which included the S-class factory, and most of the workers get to a car manufacturing plant by train/bike! The sweet irony.
There’s a metra electric stop somewhat nearby. Hopefully if this is actually built, they can also extend the 87 bus into the complex.
maybe the billions for the CTA red-line extension to nowhere could be used here
The Midwest will never be like Europe in any shape or form. Even if you built a train line to this factory, most workers would drive.
Not with that limiting mindset we won’t. It takes time, but Europe didn’t get to the Europe we see today overnight. Change is always possible!
European nations are small and most live in densely populated villages, towns and cities all built along century old routes that are now linked by rail. The US however is massive and when the automobile gained popularity, urban sprawl grew, especially in the Midwest. You can’t undo what has already been done and ask the majority of American’s to give up their large suburban home with large plots and land and live in a more urban environment. Never going to happen. The closest you will find is in the North East corridor from Boston to DC.
I suspect you have never visited Chicago. The neighborhood next to this project is similar to Brooklyn or Queens in layout and density. Chicago has an established rail system with connectivity to different neighborhoods and suburbs, but this one could use better connections. The northeast corridor isn’t the only place in the US where this could work. Most of Chicago was established before the car and many people working in this city don’t live in single family suburban homes on large lots.
This may be near the suburbs but it still isn’t the suburbs, it’s the 3rd biggest city in the country, and we have the largest passenger rail network outside of New York. (NY isn’t in Europe either, and millions of people use trains there). The reason so many people drive is because we stopped investing in our public transit like we used to. That can change and I would argue it is changing in many parts of the US and Canada
However locals worry that they will be left out of the equation as many of the jobs will require specialized PhDs – here comes dems bs, this is exactly why it’s not Illinois but Texas and Florida is booming. They don’t want high tech companies but also want state assistance, it doesn’t work like that.. tax money doesn’t appear from a thin air. 🤦🏻♂️ hopefully any opposition will be ignored and it’ll get build.
The locals pushed back on their hero’s (Obama) tower. This is not going to bring local jobs and the employees will most likely live near UC and drive here on the DLSD with an onsite cafeteria. Everybody knows this and the locals are going to freak out. Not that a low skilled industry was ever going to show up here again.
But they won’t exclusively hire PhD’s, that’s such a logical fallacy! Any large facility is going to need maintenance crew, security guards, janitors, receptionists etc. etc. None of those jobs require advanced degrees and they can make an effort to hire locally! People need to think with all of their brain.
There’s always pushback, but most locals didn’t push back against the Obama Center and I can tell you’re untrustworthy because you added a D to “LSD” haha
Have you been following the discussion, or just hitting all the right-wing dingaling talking points that feel good when you spew them?
I ask because I live three blocks away and have been following the plans for the area for years.
I’m also from this neighborhood, this gives us opportunity. Yes, I went to college with the help from my parents and scholarships. I also worked very hard. Be realistic, this brings jobs to all income levels. The mill days are over and will not return. Listen to your rhetoric, it’s shameful to the people.
“concrete walls could not be demolished”
Honest question, is there a structural reason or a cost reason, the walls could not be demolished?
Also, what would it take to remove all the concrete/roadway on the north side of the slip and rewild it with prairie grass/wild flowers?
I am not familar with this area at all, but I similarly curious why a commerical development is the best solution for a lakefront site. But offices and giant supercomputer are a huge improvement over a steel mill or empty land.
Probably because of the neighbors. Commercial works because it’s gated area and employees come and leave. Plus just south of this area is pretty dirty industrial zone as well also on the lake.
My guess is that it needs a ton of water to cool the computer and Lake Michigan is right there.
That is why locals are concerned. They are worried about dirty water being dumped into the lake. Trump Tower is dumping dirty water into the river with no consequence.
Part of it is the cooling needs of the facility but another large part is the remediation needs of the site. You need more remediation for a residential use than a commercial use. This is also a very expensive project, making the cleanup costs more palatable.
Will Steeleworkers Park and Park 455 remain?
Hi Salvatore, they will remain.
Good afternoon I think it’s great of the project starting in 2026 the 87th /83rd Street could use a change:grocery stores parking affordable housing a bus station shelter with bath rooms and enough room for multiple routs passing/metra thru the area 🙏🏼 that the construction can happen for this area at the old steel mill site ❤️
Agreed 100% I’d rather see more of a neighborhood, maybe even with a lakefront park, but beggars can’t be choosers, plus there’s issues with the land. I’m just glad something is being built. It’ll encourage more investment and opportunity in the area which is needed.
I read elsewhere where part of this campus was going to be associated with University of Illinois. It would be nice if Amtrak could stop at 87th Street and an efficient east/west connection could be developed to close the 4 mile gap.
I’m surprised it’s on the southern half of the site, rather than the northern half. I thought the Port District would have wanted to use that site for a future expansion (if it ever got to that point).