Thompson Center in Chicago

• Construction start: 1979
• Construction finish: 1985
• Designed by: Murphy/Jahn Architects
• Cost: $173,000,000.00
• Type: Government Building
• Stories: 17
• Maximum Height: 308 feet / 94 meters

• This was formerly the location of the Sherman Hotel.

»This building is named for former Illinois governor James R. Thompson.

• "[The Thompson Center was a] flop [that] sent Helmut Jahn into architectural exile; for years, he went without work in Chicago."

  -Blair Kamin, The Chicago Tribune, June 7, 2008

• CAIF - Chicago Architecture Info Forum

• Monument à la Bête Debout
• Chicago Title Tower
• Chicago Title and Trust Center
• Daley Center
• The Goodman Theater
• Goodman Theatre Center
• City and County Building
• The Cadillac Palace Theater
• The State of Illinois Building
• Freeform

There are nine comments.

  One star only because there was not a negative. Ugliest building possible, and technically a energy hog wasting tax money every minute it is in existince. Hopefully, Jahn never shoes his face in this state again. Best option is knock it down, make it a park and move state offices back to the capital. Thompson deservies better than having this piece of junk named after him.07

John Hinshaw - Monday, July 12th, 2010 @ 12:42am  

  One star only because there was not a negative. Ugliest building possible, and technically a energy hog wasting tax money every minute it is in existince. Hopefully, Jahn never shoes his face in this state again. Best option is knock it down, make it a park and move state offices back to the capital. Thompson deservies better than having this piece of junk named after him.07

John Hinshaw - Monday, July 12th, 2010 @ 12:42am  

  What do you expect? Government jobs generally are awarded to the lowest bidder, though Chicago may have a different system.I'm giving this building one star due to the inefficiency of both space and climate control issues and the fact that it does a fine job of showcasing government waste..

Brad C - Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 @ 9:21am  

  A technial mess. Hard to cool, extreme heat load from windows. Too much wasted space. Cheaper to tear it down and build a LEED certified building. Plus it is UGLY.Rate it one star only because there is no option of ZERO. Every person who approved this building should have been fired.

John Hinshaw - Friday, December 18th, 2009 @ 1:59pm  

  I don't know how it functions for the people who work there, but as a person who frequently passes through/by, I find it to be absolutely wonderful, inside and out ! The buildings we should be hating are the bland glass and steel boxes, like the Block 37 development, not buildings from reputable architects which have unique features that have great visual impact and evoke emotion when you experience then.

Sandra Van Maren - Monday, November 3rd, 2008 @ 10:16pm  

  Mr. Jahn has produced some wonderful buildings. Unfortunately, this is not one of them. Could one not anticipate that the grating, pink/blue combination would not be amusing beyond the first 90 days?

JL - Friday, November 2nd, 2007 @ 1:32am  

  Disfunctional, yes. Ill conceived, certainly! The only redeeming feature is the floor of the main hall - best viewed from high above.

richbh - Thursday, August 9th, 2007 @ 2:30am  

  One of the most functional government buildings, transparent as democracy itself, open as USA society.This is one of my favorite 20th century examples of fine architecture

ALMA R. RADILLO - Tuesday, July 10th, 2007 @ 2:29pm  

  Obviousy designed by an "architect" who has no consideration for the people who occupy this structure. The committee that approved this disfunctional mess should never be allowed to be involved again.

Joseph M. Dixler - Thursday, June 8th, 2006 @ 6:05pm