A new October update highlights dining, retail and gathering spaces as the Loop project looks toward a 2028 opening.

Proposed atrium. Rendering: Pixelflakes for Google; not completed construction.

Google’s future Chicago headquarters could change more than the office map. An October 14 update on the Thompson Center redevelopment put renewed attention on its public spaces: places to eat, meet, shop and spend time in the center of the Loop.

ABC7 Chicago reported that company executives described a building intended to retain its architectural identity while adding new workplace amenities and experiences for visitors. For residents and nearby businesses, that raises a useful question: how much everyday neighborhood activity can a major office redevelopment help generate?

A workplace with room for the public

The plans preserve the building’s 17-story atrium and introduce a larger central opening with a grand staircase. ABC7’s update also describes restaurants, event space and areas for workshops and gatherings, along with an upgraded triple-insulated facade that maintains the building’s distinctive rounded appearance.

The public-facing spaces matter because the project’s reach could extend beyond the people with office badges. Chicago Loop Alliance leadership told ABC7 that new experiences could help attract more people downtown. That is an expectation for the redevelopment, rather than a measured result from a completed building.

What Google has confirmed

In its September 16 project announcement, Google described terraced seating, retail and dining opportunities around the atrium, plus space for seasonal events. It also announced a major plaza commission by artist Sanford Biggers.

The planned sculpture, Vector, is a 30-foot work incorporating quilt-inspired terracotta patterns. Google also outlined a partnership with After School Matters for a teen-created artwork connected to the building. These plans give the project a cultural dimension alongside its workplace role.

The timing remains prospective. Google’s announcement targets opening to employees, tenants and the public in 2028. ABC7’s October report describes an expected early-2028 opening. A specific public opening day has not been established in the sources reviewed for this draft.

Proposed plaza artwork, Vector, by Sanford Biggers. Rendering published by Google; not a completed installation.

Morningstar adds another anchor

The building’s next chapter also includes Morningstar. In a September 30 announcement, the Chicago-founded investment research company said it would move its global headquarters to the Thompson Center in late 2028, taking more than 275,000 square feet and joining Google as a co-anchor.

Morningstar said it currently employs more than 1,500 people in Chicago. Keeping that workforce in the Loop provides an additional reason to watch the project’s relationship with surrounding restaurants, shops and services.

The company also announced $5 million in nonprofit funding over five years, beginning in 2027. Its plans allocate $4 million through a new fund administered by United Way of Metro Chicago and $1 million to the Commercial Club Foundation. The stated priorities include financial security and career advancement.

What nearby businesses should watch

For a lunch counter, coffee shop or neighborhood service business, the opportunity is potential customer activity. More office workers and public programming could create additional visits. That is LoopLine Live’s assessment of the plans; the announcements do not establish future sales, attendance or guaranteed new jobs.

The useful milestones now are the construction timetable, announcements of actual retail and dining tenants, and details of public access. Those will tell readers more about how the redevelopment fits into daily life than renderings alone.

For now, the story is a significant Loop project moving toward its next phase—with public space central to the pitch. Follow Google’s project updates for confirmed changes before planning a visit.