Chicago may be about to receive a new supertall skyscraper in the heart of the Loop ? but it would require the demolition of one of the city?s most polarizing buildings, the James R. Thompson Center, designed by Chicago architect Helmut Jahn.

115 story skyscraper that could replace the Thompson Center. Image © Adrian Smith Gordon Gill Architecture. Via Crain's

Chicago may be about to receive a new supertall skyscraper in the heart of the Loop ? but it would require the demolition of one of the city?s most polarizing buildings, the James R. Thompson Center, designed by Chicago architect Helmut Jahn.Owned by the state, the postmodernist Thompson Center and its colorful glass atrium have been the subject of both criticism and adoration since its opening in 1985. But wear on the building throughout the years has led to an estimated maintenance bill of $326 million, prompting the state government to find ways to rid itself of the potentially crippling costs.
115 story skyscraper that could replace the Thompson Center. Image © Adrian Smith Gordon Gill Architecture. Via Crain's

In late 2015, Governor Bruce Rauner proposed a sale and demolition of the building for an estimated $220 million, but the motion was thwarted by the Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly.Now, the state has returned with a more concrete plan that would include a 1,700-foot-tall tower designed ...