After a precipitous, seven-year rollercoaster of preservation initiatives, the National Park Service has rejected a nomination of the James R. Thompson Center to the National Register of Historic Places. The rejection was primarily due to objections by the site owner, Prime Group.

On December 15 the preservation world received some unexpected good news about the long-threatened James R. Thompson Center: Governor Pritzker had chosen a developer whose proposal for the site includes retaining the structure as a mixed-use property with office, retail and hotel space. There is still a long road ahead but this is a huge step in the right direction.

On June 25, 2021, the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council, voted unanimously in support of the James R. Thompson Center nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. 

A coalition of preservation groups including Docomomo US have signed on to a letter to Ernst & Young in support of finding a buyer who will preserve the James R. Thompson Center. 

Seems like the Thompson Center has been in the news a lot lately - here's an update on our favorite downtown starship.

Efforts to save Helmut Jahn's postmodern Thompson Center, dubbed "The Starship" for its futuristic appearance, have intensified amidst Governor Pritzker's announcement that the state will put the building up for sale. A group of ten high profile organizations have signed on to a letter urging the State of Illinois to support landmark status and #SaveOurStarship.

Although long overlooked, in recent years threats to sites of Modern heritage have been gaining a higher profile. Just in the past month, they topped two "most endangered" historic sites lists in Oklahoma and Chicago.

A rally was held on Sept. 25th in an effort to bring attention and gain support for nominating Helmut Jahn’s controversial James R. Thompson Center in Chicago to the national register. View the slideshow and sign the petition today!

Watch the digital premier of Starship Chicago - a documentary on Helmut Jahn's James R. Thompson Center. 

Ed Keegan argues why the State of Illinois Building should remain a public asset in the May/June issue of Chicago Architect Magazine.