Illinois governor, J.B. Pritzker, plans on signing a state bill that would authorize the sale of the James R. Thompson Center, paving the way for its potential redevelopment. 

The postmodern building designed by Helmut Jahn has housed offices of the Illinois state government since opening in 1985. Due to its polarizing design and its notoriously hard to heat and cool nature, state lawmakers have been pushing to sell the state-owned property, which could bring in a potential $300 million. 

First passed in 2017, SB 866—which would move offices across the street into the state-owned Michael A. Bilandic building—has been stuck in legislative limbo for the past two years. Under Prtizker's new governorship, the state has regained interest in the possibility of a sale, from which funds could be used to address pension liabilities and other unpaid bills.

However, the threat of endangering what preservationists see as a unique representation of transparent government and Chicago's architectural spirit has sparked a major battle to save the city's most provocative building. Efforts to landmark the government building and its slopping glass façade, asymmetric design, and colorful palette have brought petitions, rallies and a documentary film.