Governor JB Pritzker announced a major step toward the sale of the James R. Thompson Center (JRTC).  The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) this week for an array of technical and project management expertise for the disposition of the JRTC at the best value to the State of Illinois. The sky-lit rotunda is 160 ft. in diameter and is surrounded by 16 floors of open office space.  The main building enclosure system is glazed with single-pane, non-thermally broken aluminum frames.  The system is energy inefficient and does not meet current standards for performance or thermal comfort. Because of prolonged deferred maintenance and delayed capital projects, the construction cost in 2016 was estimated to be over $300 million to bring the building into a good state of repair.  The facility is also larger than necessary and costly to operate with annual operating expenses exceeding $17 million.  By divesting of the oversized, outdated and expensive facility, the State can relocate its core services to appropriate replacement spaces.  This strategic relocation effort will reduce operating costs and increase productivity. In April, the Governor signed Senate Bill 886 into law that dictates the process for the sale of the property.