As the Thompson Center inches closer to full installation of its new glass skin, a permit has been issued to allow interior renovations for the future Google Chicago headquarters. Previous permits have shown The Prime Group under JRTC (James R Thompson Center) Holdings LLC as the developer, but this one names Google as the building’s owner.
The permit, with a reported cost of $85 million, was issued by the city on December 17 to do renovations of Helmut Jahn’s office building. While Clark Construction works on the exterior revamp, Skender is named as the general contractor for the reno work, with Scott R. Becker of partners by Design listed as the architect of record.
Interior rendering of Thompson Center redevelopment by JAHN
The LaSalle Street façade, and the Thompson Center’s curved front along Randolph Street. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The permit addresses work to be done up through the ninth story. It specifies “interior alterations to floors B1, 1, and 3 thru 9. Work to include lower level central kitchen and bike storage, Level 1 tenant lobby and entrance, build out of office space on floors 3-9 to further include cafe, food hall, and restaurant on levels 3 and 8, lab space on Level 4, open conference spaces on 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9.” That would seem to indicate we can expect another permit to cover interior work in the upper floors of the 17-story edifice.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
As for glass progress, there remains a lot of open space along the curved Randolph and Clark Street facades at street level, but above that, glass is very near completion on all levels, save for a few gaps here and there. Every single panel of the original skin was removed, and has been replaced with bird-friendly glass that will allow more efficient heating and cooling inside.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Google plans to move employees into the renewed offices this year. They currently occupy 1000 West Fulton, with Google Cloud staff located at 210 North Carpenter Street. It is expected all employees will be consolidated into the Thompson Center space.
Clark and Lake, next to the L platform. Photo by Daniel Schell
An L train passed the intersection of Lake and LaSalle Streets. Photo by Daniel Schell
The Clark Street façade. Photo by Daniel Schell
The Thompson Center tower crane, one of two (Shedd Aquarium) working on renovations in Chicago. Photo by Daniel Schell
Work is also ongoing to renovate the Clark/Lake CTA train platform that connects to the Thompson Center, and one stop to the east, the State/Lake platform closed on Monday so it can be completely updated. trains continue to stop and the Thompson Center, but will bypass State/Lake. That station is expected to be completed in 2029.
Stairway rendering in the Thompson Center CTA station via JAHN
Thompson Center CTA station rendering via JAHN
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what a legacy of work Helmut Jahn has left. This is what the building could of looked like originally if the cheap state of Illinois would of spent for the materials originally planned for.
100% agree
if there’s one thing the State of IL knows how to do, it’ how to save money.
They could have at least preserved more of the original design but I’m just glad it’s not demolished
Loving the fritted glass panels!
I hope they do something about the plaza. it was so cold and dead before. I hope they install some trees and benches and greenery. would be nice in the Loop.
The gardens in the renders look promising, but that’s based on ‘feel-good’ images. Google is not one to cheap out on its facilities, though. They’ve made it this far; I am sure they will follow through with full implementation. Their campus in Mountain View, CA, is simply amazing.
Didn’t realize until reading this that Google would be vacating the old Cold Storage building in Fulton Market once this is complete. That’s a pretty sizable amount of space to hit the market; makes you wonder what the future will look like for that facility.
Seeing as how it’s in Fulton Market, I think the Cold Storage’s future is hot! (sorry)