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* Pretty sure the debate is long over on this one…
Arguing that the controversial Loop structure is Helmut Jahn’s definitive achievement, preservation advocates said Monday that the untimely death of the German architect “really does cement the argument that the Thompson Center should be preserved.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who put the building up for sale last week, on Monday said the state lost “a great artistic genius,” but the James R. Thompson Center doesn’t fall under the category of great, artistic work. […]
“I think it really does define his career,” [Ward Miller, the executive director of Preservation Chicago] said of the Thompson Center. “There may still be projects by Jahn in process, but we are never, ever going to see another design by Helmut Jahn be constructed other than what’s already planned, and I think that it really does cement the argument that the Thompson Center should be preserved.” […]
“The James R. Thompson Center was a building that never lived up to his creative genius,” Pritzker said. “We’ve obviously put out [a Request for Proposals] that allows people who are thinking about buying the property to preserve the building or choose something else.”
* Good point…
Not talking about the replaceable units, more the layout, with its many bottlenecks & inherent slowness (which is also a good symbol of proper government, like the open atrium). Seriously: find one person who works there every day who defends it _as a great building to work in_. https://t.co/d8SjKfJMKH
— Bill Savage (@RogersParkMan) May 11, 2021
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 9:45 am
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The building is an abomination and a money pit for the state. The heating and cooling costs due to the open layout are not practical.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 9:48 am
Bill Savage makes a good point. I’ll say this, I went in it around the time it opened (85?) and thought it was cool. Then went in there for work occasionally and I hated it. Just the worst place. I think Jahn was brilliant and love much of his other work but that place blows.
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 9:52 am
The JRTC was the Delorean of buildings.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 9:53 am
I can only conclude that those who want to save the building were never in it.
Comment by Collinsville Kevin Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 9:56 am
I need to dig up some of those old stories that CMS pushed with a couple of TV networks, where they brought reporters into the building to show off the outdated features and just how difficult/expensive it would be to maintain the building if kept around.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 9:56 am
“Office floors are flexible by nature and can be adapted for different layouts or other uses.”
Totally agree. This is one of about 10,000 reasons the JRTC should be torn down. Unless AFSCME’s going to sign off on putting people’s desks on planks over the atrium, there is zero flexibility available in the design.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:05 am
Just a reminder that I delete anonymous comments.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:06 am
“the argument that the Thompson Center should be preserved.”
It hasn’t ever been preserved. Why start now? And I am usually the guy that says something should be preserved. But this thing should be torn down and replaced with something better and more practical.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:07 am
I worked there for 30 years and am a fan of the building. The lack of upkeep is of course a problem. I would prefer that they save the building but it seems to be a lost cause.
Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:09 am
Preserved as what?
It’s less than 40 years old. Not like a founding father or some other historical figure/s did anything momentous at that location.
Often a building is just a building.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:11 am
The owner(s) may choose to keep the Thompson Center or slightly modify it as they did 15 years ago to Soldier Field; simply adding the flying saucer to the stadium.
I still think the Stratton Building is much nicer….just sayin
Comment by Pizza Man Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:12 am
Most of the folks that love the Thompson Building never had to work there.
Comment by Soapbox Derby Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:12 am
To the post,
For me, there are very conflicting things at play here and if you throw in symbolism the work itself, the building, is list in so many ways people want the building to be seen.
As to is function and it’s purpose, as a “long term building” to meet the needs, so much of what the building is, along with glass that wasn’t the choice or needed material, the thoughts to heat and cool, what the building was… is exactly what it is. It didn’t change from its opening, and while I know I could argue the outright refusal to upkeep the building has hampered so much of the functionality and looks, be it carpet, as an example, the building hasn’t changed, our view to it’s devolution of function is obvious.
The building is also a totem.
The building has thrust upon it all the anger and angst of all things Illinois governing and Illinois politics.
It’s not the building’s fault, and the real beauty it had and was suppose to be… the building now is a punch line to what was also done to it by those who want it seen as that totem; underfunded, neglected, pretty only if you’re superficial… and “waste” that is one of the three pillars of the phony angry, and the simple minded… “waste, fraud, abuse”… but it’s exactly what it was designed … less the cut corners and the ignored upkeep.
You can do both, see the beauty, or want of beauty Helmut Jahn’s vision imagined, and see the real inadequacies with real eyes, but in the end, the building needs to go. You can see both, it’s a choice.
The totem the building sadly became, that’s unfair to Helmut Jahn.
Helmut Jahn, well before his tragic death, was celebrated, we were lucky in Illinois to have him reside here, his body of work is one that allowed bold visions to be where a function design would be far too lazy for a brilliant mind like Helmut Jahn’s.
I’m grateful for Helmut Jahn’s gift. The gift has now outlasted its need. It’s still a gift from a mind that gave the world such beautiful architecture, making a totem of angst and anger for our sakes is unfair to Helmut Jahn and celebrating Helmut Jahn doesn’t need to include tearing him down as the Thompson Center will likely be torn down too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:13 am
“you don’t demolish a house because it needs a new furnace”
Sure, but if it needs a new furnace, roof, septic, windows, flooring….
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:13 am
What you can see about the jrtc is bad. The mechanicals that you cannot see, are a nightmare. It needs to come down
Comment by Drake Mallard Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:13 am
I’ve worked there for more than 23 years and I hate the working environment. The open layout is a huge waste of available space; 10 degree temperature swings from one corridor to another just feet apart; torn & stained carpeting that make a great impression for walk-ins; leaky ceilings; bugs; fumes from the food court and the CTA wafting about. Good riddance.
Comment by stateworkerworkingfromhome Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:16 am
My first visit I looked up at the atrium and I noticed some of the desks had an open umbrella. I asked someone and they said under certain conditions so much moisture and condensation would make it “rain” INSIDE the building. Urban legend?
Comment by Nitemayor Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:17 am
@Pundent:
Brilliant comment!
I can see people spitting their coffee as they laugh.
As to the JRTC, the building looked great when it opened, but time exposed its flaws and deferred maintenance made things so much worse. The bottom line is the building was a failure even when it was brand new. The former State of Illinois Building across the street (now renamed for Michael Bilandic) was never closed because the JRTC did not contain sufficient office space for state workers. Arguably, the old building at LaSalle and Randolph functioned better than JRTC and no one has talked about closing it.
Comment by Practical Politics Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:21 am
Prior, it seems like it hurt Mr. Jahn’s heart on the need to get rid of/demolish one of his most cherished works: JRTC.
The JRTC was a nice masterpiece but inefficient and not practical primarily during the hot summers while the AC was at full blast with no purpose (if it worked).
The tourists loved the building without it a doubt, took endless pix, but then again they didn’t work there..
Comment by Pizza Man Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:23 am
The food court needs to be preserved.
Where else can you witness two wedding parties, an arrest or two, wildlife sighting (rats, maybe a mouse) and get an Arby’s market fresh sandwich?
Comment by JP Altgeld Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:31 am
Buildings come and go.
The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo was a grand design by Frank Lloyd Wright. It even survived the 1923 earthquake like it was designed to. But it outlived it’s usefulness in that high density city and was demolished. You can’t say it wasn’t well built, because it took the explosives experts multiple tries to get it down.
Visually, I like the JRTC. Having been inside it on occasional working trips, I recognize its’ faults. It’s outlived its’ usefulness. Time for it to go or be repurposed.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:35 am
Out of respect for the deceased, I’ll limit my remarks about the building to this:
Illinois needed an office building, not an art display. JRTC may look cool (depending upon your tastes), it was not a functional office building to address the needs of the workers there or the ability to meet future space needs.
The best use of that building was for a movie. So if preservation folks want to save this art, then let them buy it the state and turn it into a museum. But for me, I’d go with a waterpark.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:38 am
==The food court needs to be preserved.==
Especially the Panda Express, with a sign saying “Blago Ate Here.”
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:38 am
I went to JRTC multiple times for meetings. Most offices I sat in had portable heaters. The noise level from the atrium was usually noticeable. While the basic design is pretty unique, I heard endless stories of utility cost, bad mechanical, and functional limitations. It would not be the first major building replaced in Chicago. If some group wants to save it as a tribute to Jahn then they should buy it and put up the cash for all required remodeling/operating costs.
Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:40 am
Reminds me of the Willard Ice Building on steroids. Needs to go.
Comment by SAP Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:42 am
== JRTC may look cool (depending upon your tastes), it was not a functional office building to address the needs of the workers there or the ability to meet future space needs. ==
This is the main point. Regardless of its architectural value, it is just not a very good office building.
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:45 am
The Thompson Center may be a very lovely sculpture, but it’s job is to be a functional office building.
It doesn’t do its job.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:48 am
I have been in and out of the building hundreds of times since it opened. The Governor is doing the right thing to sell it because it has become an inefficient use of space. The state should not have to pay for the extensive and very expensive repairs needed to bring it up to date. The time to do that has passed. But if we require the next buyer to preserve and repair it, it will severely limit the number and type of interested buyers and the state may end up not being able to sell it. Let’s not tie our hands as tax payers. Preservation is important but may be outweighed by these circumstances.
Comment by Big Red Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:49 am
I was a kid when it was built but remember news stories. The building was doomed from the start, cost overruns and lack of funding to finish it right. The leaking glass and lack of maintenance summed up in a word it was an “embarrassment” the past 20 years
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:50 am
I think the Thompson Center is part of a trend in high-profile modernist architecture that considers the artistic vision of the architect to be superior to the needs of the human beings who will work or live or even just spend time in the building. And too be clear, Jahn clearly was a brilliant artist with a great vision. But a building, especially a public building like this, is not a painting. People have to spend actually be in it, often for reasons that are beyond their control. If it doesn’t work on that human level, it isn’t serving its purpose and should go.
Comment by Actual Red Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:55 am
There are some buildings from the early skyscraper era than were demolished and now are recognized as lost masterpieces in the trajectory of Chicago’s and the world’s architecture. I attended a few meetings and had a few lunches in the Thompson Center and I thought it was a beautiful, an inspirational, a standout structure in Chicago’s landscape. Still, I can fully appreciate the concerns and problems of people who actually worked there. However, with the nature of “work” changing due to the pandemic and technology and fewer employees actually reporting to work (anywhere in an office setting) as they did when JRTC was constructed, I do wonder if there are other modified/alternate/updated uses that could be contemplated rather than it being completely demolished. In other words its unique “form” might be perfectly suited for a new :function” or purpose.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:59 am
It is the purgatory of buildings. Anyone who has worked there will agree. I’ll certainly raise a glass to its destruction.
Comment by khill Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:06 am
No offense to Mr Jahn, but like many other things in Illinois, the building is broken and needs to be torn down and re-built from scratch. Too bad they waited until a time where the need for office space is at its lowest level in decades.
Comment by Really Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:13 am
===unique “form” might be perfectly suited for a new :function” or purpose===
Other than a water park, I’m kinda stumped.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:14 am
=== Other than a water park, I’m kinda stumped.===
At least you could get to the water park via L. No parking issues.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:20 am
Think of the possibilities–bring back the Bar Double R!
Comment by Steve Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:26 am
Paging Christopher Nolan: Obsolete Chicago Building in Need of Cinematic Demise.
Comment by Tear One Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:39 am
Remodel the inside into a multi-level parking deck.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:48 am
“Other than a water park, I’m kinda stumped.”
Might also work as a greenhouse to grow the legalized.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:49 am
“Other than a water park, I’m kinda stumped.” Maybe invent a version of baseball where it’s only a homerun if you hit it into the 17th deck.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:53 am
For those who only see a water park, I suggest you take a trip to the old Cook County Hospital and see what some basic rehab and vision can do to a bldg.
Comment by Annoyed Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:05 pm
New location for General Iron./s
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:06 pm
I am very much of the opinion that public buildings like gov’t and schools should not be one-of-a-kind, designed from scratch architectural masterpieces like this. They should be functional, meet the purpose, and be easy to build, run, and maintain. Preferably several copies will have been already built and in operation to work out the bugs. This would not diminish us one little bit.
Comment by Jibba Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:41 pm
Now that Ronnie’s Steakhouse is gone, what’s the point?
Comment by ChrisB Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:24 pm
Been in that building since it opened - moved around to 4 agencies, so I have a real good feel of how bad it is. For 2 years I had to rig golf umbrella to the top of my cubicle call to keep the sun out out my eyes - had one facing east and one south. Had a desk top thermometer in the summer registers at 82-84 degrees. The same disgusting carpet and reception furniture makes my skin crawl. Its time for the SOIC/JRTC to go.
Comment by PMS Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:38 pm
The Cook County Hospital rehab does look great. It also took nearly 20 years to happen and $140,000,000. And all that investment was greenlit as part of a much bigger project surrounding it, approved at a time when the future of large downtown office buildings was a lot clearer than it is today. https://www.archpaper.com/2020/08/transformation-of-chicagos-historic-cook-county-hospital-into-mixed-use-hotel-complex-complete/
Comment by ChicagoBars Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:39 pm
Pundent
Braov
Comment by walker Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 5:03 pm
Bill Savage is right on point. My opinion of the building was noticeably altered once I started working there. I enjoyed the time the lights in my office (and others) went out and they couldnt figure out why. So they brought me a small desk lamp to work in the dark.
Comment by Still anon Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 10:34 pm