Thompson Center recommended for listing in State and National Registers

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ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï staff

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StarshipChicago, Chicago, Thompson Center, Advocacy
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On June 25, 2021, after on the part of local and national preservation groups and individuals, the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council voted 10-2 in support of the James R. Thompson Center nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

The nomination was commission by Landmarks Illinois and prepared by Preservation Futures, with support from a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

If the nomination is eventually approved, it would provide incentives for developers to restore the building via state and federal historic tax credits. Governor Pritzker and two state agencies, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Central Management Services "are on record opposing any recognition for the building, which state officials have repeatedly called 'oversized, outdated and expensive,' ” according to the . The Stae is moving forward with its plans to vacate the building by April 2022 and the RFP for interested buyers is . 

The next step is for the Director of the Department of Natural Resources to nominate the building. If they choose not to, an outside group may do so. 

In the meantime, the Chicago Architectural Club and the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) are calling for new, creative visions for the Thompson Center for the competition and the CAC has also launched on the architect of the Thompson Center, Helmut Jahn.

ºÚÁϳԹϠis grateful to all those who have worked hard in this years-long effort, including Preservation Chicago, Landmarks Illinois, ºÚÁϳԹÏ/Chicago, Preservation Futures, the James R. Thompson Historical Society, Society for Architectural Historians, the Chicago Architecture Center, and many others.

As we celebrate this victory, we will keep our eye on the future and continue our efforts, including working as a member of the coalition to advance the City of Chicago local landmark nomination, to ensure the Postmodern People's Palace is preserved. 

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