WBEZ Chicago • 8th January 2024

Renovating Chicago’s historic Thompson Center

The Thompson Center, was home to the Illinois state government outside Springfield. Google bought the 1.2 million-square-foot building back in 2022 for $105 million.

Chicago is rich with architectural history – and how long one leg of that history sticks around is now in the hands of Google. The tech giant purchased the Thompson Center in Chicago’s Loop in October 2022 with plans to breathe in new life.

Reset digs into that architectural history and learns more about its future.

WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own • 14th August 2021

OTL #774: Local industrial real estate boom, Julian Daniell’s new music, The Secret History of The Veil

Mike Stephen discusses how local industrial real estate is booming with AJ LaTrace of RE Journals, talks to local musician Julian Daniell about his new EP and upcoming show, and learns the Secret History of 1980s punk-pop band The Veil. And the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show, think about how to repurpose commercial buildings for residential use, and establish that Mike is always ready to play the harmonica.

Illinois Public Media • 24th May 2021

IL Companies Planning Return to Office

As of May 24, 2021, more than five million Illinoisans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — which is roughly two out of every five people. The CDC has relaxed restrictions for those who’ve been fully vaccinated — people no longer need to wear masks or keep distance in just about any setting, with public transportation being one exception. Due to this, Illinois companies are beginning to have employees return to in-person work.

WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own • 1st May 2021

OTL #759: Rich Robbins on the rise, Local labor history, Local commercial real estate

Mike Stephen sits down with local musician Rich Robbins to learn about his new album and inspiration, discusses the importance of labor history with Larry Spivack of the Illinois Labor History Society, and gets the lowdown on the health of local commercial real estate during the pandemic with AJ LaTrace, editor of RE Journals. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show and wonder if the possible renaming of Lake Shore Drive will impact classic rock jamz.

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WBBM • 23rd January 2020

Preservationists Hope For Thompson Center Reprieve

The James R. Thompson Center Historical Society is giving tours of the 1985 building, recognizing it will almost definitely be sold but hoping there will be enough public outcry to save it from the wrecking ball.

On the most recent tour: architecture classes at the School of the Art Institute, where Paul Dolick is a lecturer.

"The students are going to be challenged to examine the building as it is and for what it once stood for, but also to explore the potential of how it's going to move into the future,” he explains.

WTTW Chicago Tonight • 27th November 2019

Preservationists Rally Around Thompson Center as Pritzker Prepares for Sale

The James R. Thompson Center is hard to miss. The 17-story, sloping glass structure occupies an entire city block in downtown Chicago.

Designed by architect Helmut Jahn in the postmodern style, the 1.2-million-square-foot building opened in 1985 as the State of Illinois Center. It houses offices for some 2,200 state employees, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whose suite is on the top floor. Public spaces on its lower levels include a food court, shops and busy Clark-Lake CTA station.

But the bui

WBEZ • 25th October 2019

The Thompson Center Needs A Lot of Work Before It Can Be Sold

Blasius is one of the founders of the . Jonathan Solomon, AJ LaTrace, and Blasius are raising awareness about the architectural significance of the 17-story, Helmut Jahn-designed building that opened in 1985. Their advocacy is especially pressing now as the state of Illinois moves closer to selling the building.

Last April, the Illinois Senate passed a bill allowing the state to sell the Thompson Center . Talks of unloading the building started before Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker took office thi

WGN Radio • 5th October 2019

Outside the Loop: The Neighborhood Architecture Show

Mike Stephen hosts a roundtable discussion at The Levee bar about the significance and future of Chicago neighborhood architecture. Joining Mike at the bar is architectural historian Elizabeth Blasius and real estate writer AJ LaTrace. This week’s local music is brought to us by CWIOK.

WBBM • 3rd October 2019

Thompson Center Architectural Group Urges Historical Building Preservation Amid Impending Sale

A group of three people gathered historic materials advocating for Chicago's architectural heritage and the physical preservation of the Thompson Center.

The James R. Thompson Center Historical Society was formed after Governor Pritzker signed a law authorizing the sale of the building built in 1985. The three players pivotal in the launch are an educator, real estate reporter and an architectural historian.

WCPT 820 AM • 21st May 2019

Joan Esposito Live, Local, & Progressive

Doug Bishop - Indivisible South Side
Mark Brown - Chicago Sun-Times
AJ LaTrace - Chicago Magazine
Marshall Smith - NASA
Amanda Reyes - The Yellowhammer Fund
Joan Esposito Live, Local, & Progressive
Weekdays 2p-5p (CT)
Chicago's Progressive Talk Radio
WCPT 820AM

WGN Radio • 10th April 2019

The Opening Bell: Mega Developments Shaping The City of Chicago

Mega developments are the face of Chicago’s real estate scene at the moment with the Lincoln Yards and the 78 projects taking the spotlight. Steve Grzanich and AJ LaTrace (Real Estate Reporter Covering Development and Preservation in Chicago) scratched the surface of the focal points to the projects including the politics, economic incentives, and money that drives them.

WGN Radio • 22nd September 2016

The Opening Bell: The Fed Stays, GMOs Scare, & Houses are Tiny

And this week starts the second annual “Chicago Curbed Micro Week 2016” so Steve talked with AJ LaTrace, Editor of Curbed Chicago about his experience in a micro living situation – a trend that is becoming more than just a trend in the real estate market.

WTTW News • 1st February 2016

What’s Driving High-Rise Construction Boom in Chicago?

Chicago is seeing a rise in high-rise construction with 34 new buildings over 200 feet tall currently under construction. That number has doubled in the last 15 months. What’s causing the sky-high building boom?

"What we're seeing right now is a huge resurgence in rental and in hotels," LaTrace said. "Largely to do with the influx of young workers in the tech industry. But there's also a lot of empty-nesters moving back to the city who would prefer to rent."

WBEZ Chicago • 1st February 2016

WBEZ: Highrise Construction in Chicago

The city of Chicago seems to be a never-ending construction site. Currently, there are 34 active construction projects in and around the city, many of them being apartment buildings. What does that mean for the condo market that was dominating the scene? What does this building boom mean for the city? We answer these questions with AJ LaTrace, Curbed Chicago Editor and Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business Reporter.

ABC7 Chicago • 6th June 2014

Trump Tower sign nears completion

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago's Trump Tower only has one letter to go before its sign is complete, and the name "Trump" will be emblazoned across the latest major addition to the Chicago skyline.City Council members approved the sign for the 96-floor tower in October 2013. Donald Trump originally wanted letters that exceeded city ordinance size by 20 percent, though city development and planning officials made him comply.At 20 feet by 141 feet, the sign on the building's south faade is set to be illu