CHCAGO | Thompson Center redevelopment | Jahn's MASTERPIECE will be saved!!!!!!!!!!!

[BrinChi]

Curious if this requires curved glass to keep the exterior plane smooth? If so, that'll be some expensive glass.

[Via Chicago]

looks fantastic. this is the best outcome we could have gotten.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by BrinChi

Curious if this requires curved glass to keep the exterior plane smooth? If so, that'll be some expensive glass.

Existing glass is segmented, not curved. The panels are thin enough to not have a noticeable 'flat' effect...and I believe the reno work may have similar features. Additionally that jives with JAHN's other works, even more recent highrise projects in Chicago, where they do not use curved glass, just like 1000 S Michigan.
If the new glass does end up being curved, Google has more than enough money to pay for that

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Additionally that jives with JAHN's other works, even more recent highrise projects in Chicago, where they do not use curved glass, just like 1000 S Michigan.

Yeah but Jahn uses plenty of curved glass, too, mainly outside of Chicago in projects such as 50 West St. in NY and the Messeturm lobby reno in Frankfurt. 1000M was originally supposed to have curved glass, according to Helmut at the first community meeting. You're right about Google having enough cash available.

[ardecila]

I don't think the curves at Thompson Center are sharp enough that the faceted effect will be noticeable. Even 50 West St only used a little bit of curved glass at the corners, the rest was achieved with flat pieces.

The lines do converge on a conical surface though, so even with flat pieces of glass the panels still need to be wedge shaped with a different geometry on every floor. Not cheap!

[HomrQT]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

looks fantastic. this is the best outcome we could have gotten.

Renovated with a supertall on site and a redesign of the train stations and transfers would have been the best outcome in my opinion. But this is much better than what the condition of the building has been for a long time.

[Via Chicago]

i dont love the connected supertall idea tbh - all for more density downtown but im glad this building will continue to maintain its integrity and stand on its own merits. and i cant see a situation where the CTA station dosent get some kind of rehab coming out of this. one way or another, things rend to get cleaned up pretty quickly to surrounding areas and infrastructure after google moves in. at this rate, i wouldnt be surprised if it gets done before state/lake

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

i dont love the connected supertall idea tbh - all for more density downtown but im glad this building will continue to maintain its integrity and stand on its own merits. and i cant see a situation where the CTA station dosent get some kind of rehab coming out of this. one way or another, things rend to get cleaned up pretty quickly to surrounding areas and infrastructure after google moves in. at this rate, i wouldnt be surprised if it gets done before state/lake

I thought about that as well. Has the plan in the last few years been to combine the efforts or work as completely different projects?

I wonder if the State/Lake rehab will be effectively delayed until after the Thompson Center rehab. If both are going on simultaneously and are not explicitly coordinated, it could result in an extremely busy site with a lot of potential tripping over each other.

[r18tdi]

From Ed Keegan, architecture critic, Crain's:

Review: Google's 'New' Thompson Center And The Perils Of 21st-Century Architectural Preservation

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

From Ed Keegan, architecture critic, Crain's:

Review: Google's 'New' Thompson Center And The Perils Of 21st-Century Architectural Preservation

Crain' has an architecture critic?? Huh...

[gandalf612]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

I thought about that as well. Has the plan in the last few years been to combine the efforts or work as completely different projects?

I wonder if the State/Lake rehab will be effectively delayed until after the Thompson Center rehab. If both are going on simultaneously and are not explicitly coordinated, it could result in an extremely busy site with a lot of potential tripping over each other.

State/Lake is by the Chicago theater, the Thompson Center is sitting on top of Clark/Lake, which currently has no renovation plans

[le_brew]

Originally Posted by gandalf612

State/Lake is by the Chicago theater, the Thompson Center is sitting on top of Clark/Lake, which currently has no renovation plans

I believe that the reference is to the overhead Clark/Lake Station, no?

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Crain' has an architecture critic?? Huh...

Pretty sure he's freelance. Ed writes like two articles per year, if that.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by le_brew

I believe that the reference is to the overhead Clark/Lake Station, no?

I think so......

The Clark/Lake street entrance is on the North side of Lake, or at least that's where I catch the Blue Line, unless there's a station entrance from inside the Thompson Center? If so, then maybe Google will rebuild that?

[Klippenstein]

Originally Posted by twister244

I think so......

The Clark/Lake street entrance is on the North side of Lake, or at least that's where I catch the Blue Line, unless there's a station entrance from inside the Thompson Center? If so, then maybe Google will rebuild that?

Yup. There's an entrance in the Thompson Center that could be accessed from the food court in the basement as well as street level. I really am hoping there's still access from the atrium. Though I guess that entrance would end up being closed at night. I'm really curious how public the atrium will be. Wasn't that part of the deal?

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by Klippenstein

I'm really curious how public the atrium will be. Wasn't that part of the deal?

Nope. We're at the mercy of Google's voluntary corporate benevolence.

[Toasty Joe]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Nope. We're at the mercy of Google's voluntary corporate benevolence.

you'd think they'd include a station refresh in their plans if they want their workers, many of whom will take the blue line, to enter through more dignified means

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by Toasty Joe

you'd think they'd include a station refresh in their plans if they want their workers, many of whom will take the blue line, to enter through more dignified means

That's the CTA's realm...but if THEY were smart, they'd try to work with Google to get funding for a nicer station, like you rightly recommend.

[ardecila]

Google has promised some work to the CTA portion. But of course that needs to be designed, funded, and built through separate channels.

Even a deep clean and a coat of paint, doing the deferred maintenance etc will go a long way.

https://blog.google/inside-google/li...ompson-center/

[pip]

I'm impressed!