Helmut Jahn. Photo credit: Andrew Zuckerman
The James R. Thompson Center Photo credit: Bill Richert
The James R. Thompson Center on West Randolph Street, as with many a mold-breaking building before and since, has been alternately praised and criticized for its unique, curving presence in the midst of its more rectilinear neighbors.
The credit for the design driving this lively debate goes to German-born architect Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn, who created a State government building like no other. Murphy/Jahn operates a global practice out of its Chicago offices.
