Morningstar Will Move Headquarters to Thompson Center

The firm will relocate 1,500 employees to the downtown Chicago landmark by late 2028.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Commercial

Morningstar Will Move Headquarters to Thompson Center

Live Poll

Do you believe major corporate relocations to downtown districts effectively strengthen your local economy?

Morningstar announced it will shift its corporate headquarters to the historic Thompson Center in late 2028. The financial services firm plans to occupy 275,000 square feet within the building that Google purchased for $105 million in 2022.

Why it matters

This move keeps a major employer rooted in the downtown Loop as the company continues its long-term presence in Chicago. Morningstar is also launching a $5 million community investment program to support local nonprofits.

Morningstar will lease 275,000 square feet at the Thompson Center, a facility Google acquired for $105 million. The transition is supported by a $5 million community commitment, including $1 million for the Commercial Club Foundation and $4 million for local nonprofits.

The players

Morningstar

A Chicago-based financial services and data company founded in 1984.

Google

The technology corporation that purchased the Thompson Center in 2022.

Joe Mansueto

The founder of Morningstar who started the company with an initial $80,000 investment.

Commercial Club Foundation

A local organization set to receive $1 million as part of the company's new community grant program.

The details

The relocation involves moving 1,500 staff members to the renovated Thompson Center. This move maintains the firm's central Loop presence, which dates back to its 1984 founding in Chicago. The accompanying $5 million community commitment will be distributed over five years, beginning in 2027.

1984: Morningstar was founded in Chicago.
2022: Google announced its purchase of the Thompson Center.
2027: Morningstar begins a five-year community investment program.
late 2028: Morningstar moves its headquarters to the Thompson Center.

The Home Front

This move follows the pattern set by Google's 2022 acquisition of the Thompson Center, which serves as a landmark effort to revitalize the downtown Loop district. Such major corporate re-investments are key indicators for the long-term stability and property health of the local office market.

If you live in the Loop, watch for changes in transit patterns and local service demand as 1,500 employees migrate to the Thompson Center. Keep an eye on local property value trends in the surrounding neighborhoods as major firms confirm long-term commitments to the area.

The takeaway

Large corporate movements in the downtown core are significant markers of local economic health that impact nearby residential property demand. Track updates from the City of Chicago regarding the surrounding infrastructure development as the 2028 move-in date approaches.