Google unveiled its plans today for its new offices at the iconic, if often troubled, Thompson Center in Chicago’s Loop. And those plans include a glass façade that will help transform the often-maligned Thompson Center into a more aesthetically pleasing centerpiece for for downtown Chicago.
Google worked with architecturer firm JAHN, the original designer of the Thompson Center, on the redesign. The Thompson Center’s towering 17-story atrium will remain, according to Google’s plans.
One of the challenges with the Thompson Center has been efficiently cooling and heating the space. Karen Sauder, Google’s Chicago site lead, wrote in a blog post on Google’s site that the redesign includes more efficient heating and cooling systems and energy efficient windows.
This is the latest chapter in the Thompson Center’s drama-filled existence. Many have been critical of the building, designed by famed architect Helmut Jahn, since it opened in 1985.
For more on Google’s plans, and for additional images, visit the tech giant’s official blog post on the future of the Thompson Center here.
