Google Midwest Headquarters
The Iconic "Loop Mural" at 1K Fulton
When Google established its massive Midwest Headquarters in Chicago’s Fulton Market, they sought to anchor their ultra-modern tech hub in the city’s gritty, industrial history. Our studio was commissioned by Google to create the primary visual landmark for their "Loop-themed" floor—a project that required both historical photography and massive technical scale.
The centerpiece is a high-resolution study of a vintage 6000-series CTA "L" car. To capture the soul of this transit legend, we traveled to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL. Every rivet, weathered texture, and iconic rounded "PCC" window frame was captured in extreme detail to allow for a staggering final print size.
Impossible View
While the train itself is a historical relic, the view through the windows is a work of pure digital artistry. To create a "Best of Chicago" experience, we digitally composited our original photography of Michigan Avenue (looking across from Millennium Park) into the train’s windows.
In reality, the "L" has never run directly along Michigan Avenue, but for this 60-foot installation, we chose to merge Chicago’s most beautiful skyline views with its most iconic mode of transit. The result is a "dreamscape" of the city that feels both nostalgic and immersive.
The Installation
- Scale: 60 feet wide by 9 feet tall.
- The File: We provided a single, high-resolution master image that was used to create a multi-section wall installation spanning the length of a major hallway.
- Location: Floor 5 (The "Loop" Floor), Google Chicago HQ (1K Fulton).
This project remains one of our proudest achievements—a permanent piece of Chicago history living inside the walls of one of the world’s most innovative companies.