James R. Thompson Center

Built in 1985, the Thompson Center is one of those buildings that was both loved and hated from the very start. It serves as the primary office building in Chicago for the State of Illinois. It is also home to one of the largest art collections in the city with an ever-changing array of exhibits, mostly free to the public. Clad entirely in glass, and spanning an entire city block, the curving façade houses a 17-story atrium meant to embody "an open government in action", an ironic phrase, considering Chicago's political history. The interior elevator and escalator machinery are primarily exposed, and combined with the over-abundance of mirrors and glass, this space is strangely beautiful. Another interesting view of the building is the approach from Daly Plaza, where it appears a UFO has landed in the heart of downtown Chicago.