Google Seeks Tenants for Chicago’s Thompson Center

Google is marketing over 400,000 square feet of Loop office space at the Thompson Center, its future Midwest headquarters.

The Silicon Valley-based tech giant has tapped CBRE to secure tenants across seven floors of vacant space within the James R. Thompson Center, at 100 West Randolph Street, Crain’s reported.

Google is working on a massive overhaul of the 1.2-million-square-foot building in collaboration with local developers Mike Reschke and Quintin Primo. Google’s new office will occupy floors three through nine, and it is looking for tenants to fill floors 10 through 16.

The building, originally designed as a government office building, is undergoing a major redesign to make it more appealing to modern tenants. The new layout will include terraces, greenery and retail spaces, creating an attractive environment for employees and the public.

The center’s redevelopment is expected to be completed this year, and Google plans to purchase the 17-story building from the development team. Google hasn’t confirmed whether it will exit its office leases in the Fulton Market District. The company occupies space at 1000 West Fulton Street and 210 North Carpenter Street.

The Thompson Center’s redevelopment is set to play a major role in revitalizing the Loop’s post-pandemic office market. With remote work reducing the demand for office space, many businesses are looking to downtown for more flexible and exciting options

It could also fuel demand for multifamily on the northern half of the Loop as well as River North.

AmTrust RE, for instance, recently bought the 213-unit Parkline Chicago at 60 East Randolph as part of its long-term bet on the Loop, particularly on the anticipated influx of tech professionals over the next few years.

— Andrew Terrell