Thompson Center

You are now inside the incredible Thompson Center. It’s a civic building that houses government offices as well as the Atrium shopping center. Far be it from us to force you to go shopping, but once inside, you’ll quickly understand why we chose to have you walk through it! This astonishing edifice is the work of the world-renowned German architect Helmut Jahn. If you’ve been to Berlin, know that it’s the same architect who designed the incredible Sony Center at Potsdamer Platz. And if you arrived by plane, maybe you went through the ultra-modern terminal for United Airlines, he also designed that. So you’re at the heart of the Atrium, an architectural marvel, without needing to visit a Museum of Modern Art. This structure made of marble, glass, and steel surrounds one of the largest enclosed spaces in the world! At the top of the cylindrical framework, overlooking the 17 floors of open-plan offices, meant to represent government at work, a skylight floods the interior with light. The downside here is that the double-curved glass panel glazing was too expensive, so they opted for single glazing and a good air con system. Unfortunately, the building remains very hot in summer and chilly in winter, just like the seasons in Chicago! Several governors have suggested selling the building to solve the current city’s financial problems. The project was initially rejected multiple times, but in March 2022, an agreement to sell the building was announced.