National Register Rejection Halts Thompson Center Preservation Work

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Docomomo US Staff

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Advocacy, StarshipChicago, Chicago, Thompson Center, Postmodernism, national register
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National Register Rejection Halts Thompson Center Preservation Work

Protesters rally outside the Thompson Center on June 23, 2021, in an effort to save the building from possible redevelopment. 

Credit

Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune

Update March 3, 2023

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. Further information pertaining to the rejection was released on March 3 by Preservation Futures, which authored the nomination. You can read the full press release at the link below.

Read the full press release here.

 

Docomomo US participated as a member of a coalition of advocates in the preservation of the James R. Thompson Center. For a better idea of this project's history, consider exploring a five-year span of articles that Docomomo has written on the subject below.

 

 

The future of the Thompson Center is looking brighter

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.

High Profile Organizations Sign Letter of Support for Thompson Center

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.

Thompson Center recommended for listing in State and National Registers

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. 

Thompson Center advocacy continues

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

Save our Starship

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!

To be, or not to be, Docomomo, that is no longer the question

By advocating for the safeguarding of buildings and sites based less on chronological ‘fit’ and more on whether or not they have expanded the tenets of the Modern Movement in meaningful and provocative ways, Docomomo will take a decisive leadership role in an arena that will only intensify and expand in the years ahead.

 

As part of a coalition of public advocates for the preservation of Modern architecture, Docomomo US would like to acknowledge and celebrate the work of Elizabeth Blasius and Jonathan Solomon of Preservation Futures. Their work has raised awareness and legitimacy surrounding the preservation of Postmodern architectures, a cause that we continue today in our recent advocacy for sites such as The Ambassador Grill & Lounge, the One UN Plaza Hotel Lobby, and 60 Wall Street, among others. Explore our ongoing work below.  

Proposal would strip 60 Wall St of its unique Postmodern features

A proposed renovation to the exterior facade, lobby, and atrium of KRJDA's 60 Wall Street would turn this unique postmodern resource into another bland and generic space. 

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