Google is in talks to purchase the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago, a move that could transform the city's downtown area, according to a report by commercial real estate information company CoStar.
The tech giant would move into part of the historic 17-story building in Chicago's Loop, people familiar with the deal told the website. Chicago developer Prime Group agreed last year to buy the facility from the state of Illinois after the structure had become a drain on the state's finances.
A Google spokesperson told CoStar the company will "explore opportunities to ensure our physical space meets the needs of local Googlers," which number nearly 2,000 in Chicago. Google's Chicago headquarters is in the trendy former meatpacking district Fulton Market.
The company has stated it plans to hire 10,000 workers in Chicago, Atlanta, New York and Washington by 2025.