Pritzker signed a bill in April to greenlight the sale of the center, laying out a roughly two-year timeline for offloading it. The building, named for former Gov. Jim Thompson and designed by renowned German architect Helmut Jahn, is a priority for salvage by preservationists but is considered a burden by the state (and employees who work there) for its outsize operational costs and inefficient layout.

“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 state said in the release. “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 By divesting of the oversized, outdated and expensive facility, the State can relocate its core services to appropriate replacement spaces.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.”

The sale of the 34-year-old, 1.2 million-square-foot building—in the heart of the Loop at 100 W. Randolph St.—has been part of budget discussions in Springfield for years. Former Gov. Bruce Rauner advocated selling it in three of his proposed budgets.

The bill Pritzker signed in April “removes procedural requirements to allow for a more flexible negotiations with potential buyers . . . provides assurances to the City of Chicago regarding zoning changes and continued operation of the Clark/Lake CTA station . . . (and) designates office space for the State’s constitutional officers in a neighboring state-owned building,” according to the Civic Federation, which has warned against using asset sales to plug budget holes. Pritzker said the sale would help stabilize state pension funds.

Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel butted heads over the bill during the budget impasse, as Rauner rejected an Emanuel proposal for the sale that would have allowed zoning for a skyscraper on the site.

State workers would be moved to a building on the west side of LaSalle Street, the Michael A. Bilandic building, "and other underutilized, state-owned or rented facilities" consistent with a state task force that is reviewing the matter.

RFP responses are due Oct. 4.