Google Breaks Ground on Thompson Center Redevelopment

Construction got underway Monday at the James R. Thompson Center, which is being redeveloped for Google at 100 W. Randolph St. in downtown Chicago, reported the Chicago Business Journal.

The tech giant is co-developing the 1.3-million-square-foot, Helmut Jahn-designed building with Prime | Capri Interests, a joint venture formed when The Prime Group Inc. and Capri Investment Group bought the Thompson Center from the state for $105 million in 2022. Google plans to acquire the property once renovations are complete.

Upon completion, renovations will include a heightened entry colonnade redesigned to allow a new ground-floor experience, three levels of covered terraces with more natural light, access to green spaces and biophilic design elements, according to the Business Journal. The original 17-story atrium will be retained.

Google’s plans for its Chicago office come after the company has spent two decades in the city. “Our new office gives us a long-term presence in the Loop that will support our business needs across the Midwest and create a great environment for our employees,” said Karen Sauder, Google’s Chicago site lead and president of global clients and agency solutions.

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