James R. Thompson Center

This government building is among the most controversial of Chicago’s modern buildings. Completed in 1985 by Helmut Jahn, the 17-story round glass structure has been ridiculed for looking like a crash-landed spaceship.
Those who focused more on its functionality joked about it as “Thompson’s Folly” (after Governor Jim Thompson, who commissioned the building) because of the exorbitant costs and the initial problems with the air conditioning system and the intense sunlight, necessitating workers to wear gloves in the winter and sunglasses in the summer.

The building not only houses offices, but also shops, cafés and restaurants, as well as an art gallery well worth a visit. Various events attract the young and old to the Center with its futuristic feel.