A new flagship center in downtown Chicago aims to make trips to the DMV a whole lot easier.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias cut the ribbon Tuesday on the new “state-of-the-art” facility at 125 W. Monroe St. The center will offer a suite of services while also cutting down on lines and wait times, he said.

“The flagship center is a shining example of introducing innovative modernization initiatives, providing the best possible customer experience and, of course, eliminating the time tax,” Giannoulias said. “Modernization is also about creating efficiencies, offering a slew of new services and making them more accessible to more people in every community across Illinois.”

The 24,000-square-foot, two-story facility is five times bigger than the Chicago Central DMV, at 160 N. LaSalle St., which closed Friday.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and supporters participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday at the Secretary of State flagship center at 125 W. Monroe St.

The flagship center is also more than “just a DMV,” Giannoulias said. The new facility will offer services that are not available at any other DVM in the state.

The center will offer driver and vehicle services at a service counter and self-service kiosks. It will also offer informal administrative hearings and reinstatements; business services including obtaining certified copies of business records and filing documents; walk-in service for customers obtaining apostilles and certificates of authority for foreign use documents; employment testing for DMV employees; and public-use computers for those with limited access or who need assistance to submit job applications.

On the ground level, Illinoisans can take care of registration and driver’s license renewals at fast-lane kiosks, while more detailed services will be handled on the lower level.

The facility will also offer informal administrative hearings and reinstatements; business services including obtaining certified copies of business records and filing documents; walk-in service for customers obtaining apostilles and certificates of authority for foreign use documents; employment testing for DMV employees; and public-use computers for those with limited access or need assistance to submit job applications.

Giannoulias said the center is the first of many updates to be made in other DMV facilities across the state.

“Our goal is to upgrade all of our facilities,” he said. “We’ve got some more exciting news — I don’t want to step on our own message here — but you’ll see in some of the collar counties, we’ve got some really exciting openings.”

The center will offer walk-in and appointment services from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Appointments can be made online or by calling 800-252-8980.