Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says the lawmakers will consider a plan to sell the Thompson Center government office building in downtown Chicago. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has been interested in selling the large, glass-paned office building since he took office two years ago. The governor even mentioned the idea during his annual budget address. Rauner has estimated the state could net $200 million selling the building.
Madigan says that a House panel will examine the proposed sale, saying it's his intention to work with the governor on developing a course of action for the Thompson Center that best serves the interests of the people of Illinois.
Architect Helmut Jahn designed the 17-story, 980,000-square-foot building, which opened in 1985 at a cost of $172 million.