The
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University ...
is an academic research institution located in
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, Urbana had a population of 38,336. As of the 2010 United States Census, Urbana is the List of municipalities in Illinois, 38th-most pop ...
and the flagship campus of the
University of Illinois System
The University of Illinois System is a system of public universities in Illinois consisting of three universities: Chicago, Springfield, and Urbana-Champaign. Across its three universities, the University of Illinois System enrolls more than 9 ...
. Since its founding in 1867, it has resided and expanded between the twin cities of
Champaign
Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in Illinois outside the Chicago metropo ...
and
Urbana __NOTOC__
Urbana can refer to:
Places Italy
*Urbana, Italy
United States
*Urbana, Illinois
**Urbana (conference), a Christian conference formerly held in Urbana, Illinois
*Urbana, Indiana
* Urbana, Iowa
*Urbana, Kansas
* Urbana, Maryland
*Urbana, ...
.
Several architects had been instrumental in the building of the campus. These include Ernest L. Stouffer,
Nathan Clifford Ricker
Nathan Clifford Ricker, D.Arch (June 24, 1843 – March 19, 1924) was a professor and architect known for his work at the University of Illinois. He was born on a farm near Acton, Maine June 24, 1843. In 1875, he was married to Mary Carter S ...
,
Charles A. Platt
Charles Adams Platt (October 16, 1861 – September 12, 1933) was a prominent American architect, garden designer, and artist of the "American Renaissance" movement. His garden designs complemented his domestic architecture.
Early career Pai ...
,
James M. White,
Clarence Howard Blackall,
Holabird & Roche
The architectural firm now known as Holabird & Root was founded in Chicago in 1880. Over the years, the firm has changed its name several times and adapted to the architectural style then current — from Chicago School to Art Deco to Modern ...
, and W.C. Zimmerman. Various campus buildings have been placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
; these include the
Mumford House,
Louise Freer Hall
Louise Freer Hall, also known as the Women's Gymnasium, is a historic building on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Built in 1930, it was the last of the university's buildings designed by Charles A. Platt, who was respons ...
, Evans Hall, Busey Hall,
Main Library,
Altgeld Hall
Altgeld Hall, located at 1409 West Green Street in Urbana, Illinois on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, campus, was built in 1896–97 and was designed by Nathan Ricker and ...
,
Round Barns
A round barn is a historic barn design that could be octagonal, polygonal, or circular in plan. Though round barns were not as popular as some other barn designs, their unique shape makes them noticeable. The years from 1880 to 1920 represent th ...
,
Kenney Gymnasium,
Natural History Building
The Natural History Building is a historic building on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in Urbana, Illinois. Built in 1892, the building originally housed the university's departments of botany, zoology, and geology. ...
, and
Harker Hall. In addition, the
Morrow Plots __NOTOC__
The Morrow Plots is an experimental agricultural field at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Named for Professor George E. Morrow, it is the oldest such field in the United States and the second oldest in the world. It was esta ...
and the
University of Illinois Observatory
The University of Illinois Astronomical Observatory, located at 901 S. Mathews Avenue in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was built in 1896, and was designed by Charles A. Gunn. It has been listed o ...
are designated as the
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
. In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, the Main Quadrangle at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places by the
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...
Illinois component (AIA Illinois).
History
Established as one of 37 public land-grant institutions established after the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act. The act was signed by
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...
on July 2, 1862. The
Morrill Act
The Morrill Land-Grant Acts are United States statutes that allowed for the creation of land-grant colleges in U.S. states using the proceeds from sales of federally-owned land, often obtained from indigenous tribes through treaty, cession, or se ...
of 1862 granted each state in the United States a portion of land on which to establish a major public state university, one which could teach agriculture, mechanic arts, and military training, "without excluding other scientific and classical studies."
[''Illini Years: A Picture History of the University of Illinois'' (1950). p.6"] This phrase would engender controversy over the university's initial academic philosophies, polarizing the relationship between the people of Illinois and the university's first president,
John Milton Gregory
John Milton Gregory (July 6, 1822October 19, 1898) was an American educator and the first president (regent was his official title) of the University of Illinois, then known as Illinois Industrial University.
Early life
John Milton Gregory was ...
.
[''Illini Years: A Picture History of the University of Illinois'' (1950). p.11"] Illinois was one of seven commonwealths that had not formed a state university. The grant established eligibility for 480,000 acres of public scrip land valued at $600,000.
In the 1920s, the university became known as one of the strongest fraternity campuses in the country. Fraternity row was established in the early 1900s while sorority housing concentrated on John Street. The fraternity district moved southward towards Chalmers Street and most sororities moved to Urbana by the Greek house building boom in the 1920s.
In June 1929, the Alma Mater statue was unveiled.
Like many universities, the economic depression slowed construction and expansion which was during President Arthur C. Willard's term. Willard served from 1934 to 1946. Even though expansion was slow but added Gregory Hall and the
Illini Union
The Illini Union, located at 1401 West Green Street in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, is the student union for the University.
The building was dedicated on November 1, 1941, as the campus's ...
. In the years following World War II, under president David Henry the university experienced rapid growth. The enrollment doubled and the academic standing improved which also resulted in the expansion of the campus and buildings. This included the creation of
Willard Airport.
Main Quad
There are fifteen buildings on or very close to the Main Quad that comprise the main campus of the university.
They are listed clockwise with the Illini Union on the north side as the top:
Illini Union
The Illini Union is the
student union
A students' union, also known by many other names, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, ...
at the northernmost point of the Main Quad and lies on Green Street. Its Georgian Revival style was conceived by Ernest L. Stouffer, university architect, and Howard Cheney, consulting architect. The cupola, clock, and bell from University Hall (demolished) are retained in the Union. Much of the original woodwork was carved by John C. Freiburg. The building was constructed in 1939–40; a $6.9 million addition in 1960 dramatically increased its size and usefulness. The Union replaced the University Hall, one of the first buildings on the campus. It is the center of student activities and hundreds of registered student organizations. Numerous expos, conferences, and events are held in the Union's ballrooms and facilities. There is a full-service underground food court and bowling alley as well as a university operated hotel in the upper floors.
Harker Hall
Harker Hall is immediately east of the Union and west of the Natural History Building. The building previously housed the Department of Chemistry and School of Law. The building was named after Judge Oliver Harker, who served as the Dean of the College of Law from 1903 to 1916. Harker Hall underwent extensive restoration in 1992 and is home to the University of Illinois Foundation, a non-profit organization that is responsible for the fund raising effort for the University of Illinois system.
Natural History Building
The Natural History Building marks the northeast corner of the LAS buildings and has been largely evacuated as a result of structural issues discovered in 2010. The building was designed by
Nathan Clifford Ricker
Nathan Clifford Ricker, D.Arch (June 24, 1843 – March 19, 1924) was a professor and architect known for his work at the University of Illinois. He was born on a farm near Acton, Maine June 24, 1843. In 1875, he was married to Mary Carter S ...
and was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
, and has several additions that expanded the building to the south in the early 20th century. The building used to house the university's natural history museum with exhibits on
geology
Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ear ...
and
paleontology
Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of fossi ...
. The majority of these exhibits have been relocated to storage facilities or became part of the
Spurlock Museum
The William R. and Clarice V. Spurlock Museum, better known as the Spurlock Museum, is an ethnographic museum at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Spurlock Museum's permanent collection includes portions of collections from other ...
. The building was set to undergo a $70 million renovation beginning in 2014, and upon completion in 2016, will house the School of Earth, Society and Environment (which includes the departments of Atmospheric Sciences, Geology, and Geography and Geographic Information Science) and teaching labs of the School of Integrative Biology.
Noyes Laboratory
Noyes Laboratory is home to the
chemistry
Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
department and lies directly south of the Natural History Building. The building is in the
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after the American architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838–1886). The revival style incorporates 11th and 12th century southern French, Spanish, and Italian Romanesque ...
style. Built in 1902, the Noyes Laboratory was the largest chemistry building in the nation upon its completion. The building was designated a
National Historic Chemical Landmark
The National Historic Chemical Landmarks program was launched by the American Chemical Society in 1992 to recognize significant achievements in the history of chemistry and related professions. The program celebrates the The central science, cent ...
by the
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 155,000 members at all d ...
in 2002.
Chemistry Annex
The Chemistry Annex provides additional facilities for the chemistry department; among them labs, classrooms, study halls and the Chemistry Learning Center, where students can receive additional assistance from
TAs and professors. While Chemistry Annex is physically attached to the north side of Davenport Hall it is connected to Noyes Lab via a tunnel.
Davenport Hall
Completed in 1899, the Davenport Hall is one of the oldest academic buildings on campus. Davenport Hall is immediately south of Noyes Lab and the Chemistry Annex. It is still labeled with its original name, "College of Agriculture," but today is home to the departments of
geography
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
and
anthropology
Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of behavi ...
. The building was named after
Eugene Davenport
Eugene Davenport (June 20, 1856 – March 31, 1941) was an American academic and agriculturist from Michigan. Davenport studied at the undergraduate and graduate level at Michigan State Agricultural College. He taught at the school for two years, ...
, the former dean of the College of Agriculture.
Foreign Language Building
The Foreign Language Building is south of Davenport Hall and houses all of the foreign language departments.
A popular myth is that the building's distinctive architecture was a result of its being designed to house a supercomputer on campus called Plato. The building was supposedly designed so that if it was bombed, the building's shell would fall outwards, protecting the supercomputer on the inside. It is also rumored that the building's interior layout was a result of trying to confuse Soviet spies and prevent them from stealing secrets from the supercomputer. In reality, the building's architecture is not actually all that unique and was a popular style of the day. In fact, just a few blocks to the west, one may find the Speech and Hearing Sciences Building, which is a 2-story clone of the building. Plato itself was real, but referred not to a secret government program, but rather to the first "modern" electronic learning system, the predecessor of course software like WebCT and Mallard. The mainframe computer that ran the Plato system was located in north campus, in a building which used to reside on the west side of the Bardeen Quad.
Foellinger Auditorium
Foellinger Aditorium marks the southern terminus of the Main Quad, directly facing the Illini Union. Originally known as the "University Auditorium," the structure was renovated as part of a donation from Helene Foellinger of
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...
. The structure was designed by Charles Blackall, a prominent Boston-based architect who specialized in theater design.
It is used for stage productions, speaker presentations, and large lecture classes.
Gregory Hall
Gregory Hall lies due west of Foellinger and houses numerous departments within the
College of Media
The College of Media is a college at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States. The college name changed from College of Communications to the College of Media in 2008.
The College of Media offers Bachelor of Science degre ...
and LAS, including
philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
,
economics
Economics () is the social science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services.
Economics focuses on the behaviour and intera ...
, and
history
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
. The building is named in honor of John Milton Gregory, the former University President.
Lincoln Hall
Lincoln Hall is northwest of Foellinger and is home to the College of Liberal Arts & Science, the largest college on campus. The building centers around a large auditorium. A big bust of
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...
outside the entrance to the theater has its
nose
A nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which receive and expel air for respiration alongside the mouth. Behind the nose are the olfactory mucosa and the sinuses. Behind the nasal cavity, air next passes th ...
polished and nearly worn away after decades of students' rubbing it for good luck prior to a test. Prior to the opening of the Spurlock Museum across the campus, Lincoln was the home of the World Heritage Museum. In Spring 2007, Illinois Governor
Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich ( , born December 10, 1956), often referred to by his nicknames "Blago" or "B-Rod", is an American former politician, political commentator, and convicted felon who served as the 40th governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009, when ...
's proposed capital budget for the Fiscal Year 2008 called for $55.1 million for the $66.4 million renovation project. The building reopened for classes in Spring 2012.
Eternal Flame
The free standing pillar between Lincoln Hall and the English Building on the Main Quad is the Eternal Flame. Formerly an ever-burning oil lamp, it is now topped with an electric light. It is a memorial from the class of 1912.
English Building
Built in 1905, the English Building was designed by
McKim, Mead & White
McKim, Mead & White was an American architectural firm that came to define architectural practice, urbanism, and the ideals of the American Renaissance in fin de siècle New York. The firm's founding partners Charles Follen McKim (1847–1909), Wil ...
, a firm known for
Beaux-Arts architecture
Beaux-Arts architecture ( , ) was the academic architectural style taught at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, particularly from the 1830s to the end of the 19th century. It drew upon the principles of French neoclassicism, but also incorpora ...
. It was originally known as the "Woman's Building." At that time, according to Senator Henry Dunlap, it was supposed to "provide for every aspect of a women's education." This included hosting Household Science with its practice apartment, practice kitchens and dietetics classroom, the Child Development Study Program, a gymnasium, and a pool.
["When Women Ruled the English Building," October 8, 1975, ''Daily Illini'', pages 15, 19.] The plan of the earliest building only included the westernmost portion of the building, as well as parts of the southern and northern legs.
Influenced by a new campus plan, an addition, designed by William Carbys Zimmerman, was added in 1913 to the Quad side of the Women's Building. This new addition of classrooms and meeting rooms formed the square shaped plan and called for the creation the East side, two-story, white portico.
["Capsule History of Campus Development," Historic Preservation Plan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Office of Publications/Office of Public Affairs for the Office for Project Planning and Facility Management, 1995.] Another addition was completed in 1923 by James M. White.
[uiuc.edu](_blank)
, Leetaru, Kalev, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: A History of Campus.
In 1947, the Woman's Building was renamed Bevier Hall in honor of
Isabel Bevier, the founder of the Home Economics Department in 1900.
["UI Home Ec Notes Birthday," ''Urbana Courier'', November 13, 1950.] This name lasted until the new Bevier Hall on Goodwin Avenue was dedicated in 1956. At that time it was renamed the English Building as the English Department took over.
[University of Illinois Transactions of the Board of Trustees, July 1, 1954 – June 30, 1956, Anthony James Janata, Secretary, page 1056.] Among students on campus, the
legend
A legend is a Folklore genre, genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human valu ...
has it that a student drowned in a swimming pool and continues to haunt the building today. Today, the English Building is home to the English department and lies north of Lincoln Hall.
Henry Administration Building
The David Dodds Henry Administration Building is north of the English Building and houses primarily administrative offices, including
University Student Financial Services & Cashier Operations (USFSCO), as well as several classrooms. The building is named after David Henry, the university president from 1955 to 1971.
Altgeld Hall
Named after former Illinois governor
John Peter Altgeld
John Peter Altgeld (December 30, 1847 – March 12, 1902) was an American politician and the 20th Governor of Illinois, serving from 1893 until 1897. He was the first Democrat to govern that state since the 1850s. A leading figure of the Progr ...
, Altgeld Hall marks the northwest corner of the Quad between the Henry Administration Building and the Illini Union on the corner of Wright and Green Streets. Opened as the Library Hall, the building also served as the Law Building and now is the home of the Department of Mathematics. Designed by
Nathan Clifford Ricker
Nathan Clifford Ricker, D.Arch (June 24, 1843 – March 19, 1924) was a professor and architect known for his work at the University of Illinois. He was born on a farm near Acton, Maine June 24, 1843. In 1875, he was married to Mary Carter S ...
, the
Romanesque building was the compromise between John Altgeld's preference of
Gothic revival
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...
style and the classical architecture desired by the board of trustees. The tower was modeled after the
Allegheny County Courthouse
The Allegheny County Courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is part of a complex (along with the old Allegheny County Jail) designed by H. H. Richardson. The buildings are considered among the finest examples of the Romanesque Revi ...
in
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
and the entryway after the
Ames Free Library
The Ames Free Library is a public library designed by noted American architect H. H. Richardson. It is located at 53 Main Street, Easton, Massachusetts, immediately adjacent to another Richardson building, Oakes Ames Memorial Hall.
In 2016 the ...
in
Easton, Massachusetts
Easton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,058 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Greater Boston area.
Easton is governed by an elected Select Board. Open Town Meeting acts as the legislative branch ...
. The building is one of
Altgeld's castles, inspired by Governor Altgeld's interest in Germanic architecture;
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University (SIU or SIUC) is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois. Founded in 1869, SIU is the oldest and flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system. The university enrolls students from all 50 s ...
,
Illinois State University
Illinois State University (ISU) is a public university in Normal, Illinois. Founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University, it is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teaching and is recognized as one of th ...
,
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a public university in Charleston, Illinois. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a co ...
and
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois. It was founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895, by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld as part of an expansion of the state's system ...
have similar structures. The tower has housed the
Altgeld Chimes
The Senior Memorial Chime, known more commonly as the Altgeld Chimes, is a 15-bell chime in Altgeld Hall Tower on the central campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in Urbana, Illinois, United States.
The chime was a gift from th ...
since 1920.
''Alma Mater''
Planted between Altgeld Hall and the Illini Union is the bronze ''Alma Mater'' statue by sculptor
Lorado Taft
Lorado Zadok Taft (April 29, 1860, in Elmwood, Illinois – October 30, 1936, in Chicago) was an American sculptor, writer and educator. His 1903 book, ''The History of American Sculpture,'' was the first survey of the subject and stood for decad ...
. The 10,000-pound statue depicts a mother-figure wearing academic robes and flanked by two attendant male and female figures representing "Learning" and "Labor" after the university's motto. The 1929 statue is iconic for the university and a popular backdrop for student graduation photos.
Nearby buildings
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Built in 1969, the Krannert Center is a five-stage theater complex. It houses the Tryon Festival Theater, Follinger Great Hall, Colwell Playhouse, and Studio Theater. It also houses an outdoor amphitheater. The building is home to all the Performing arts at the university, and holds the offices for the Theater and Opera Departments. The second level of the building houses several rehearsal rooms as well as production shops and offices.
Main Library
The Main Library is located south of Gregory Hall between Armory Drive and Gregory Drive. The UIUC libraries house the largest collection of books of any public university in the United States, reaching over thirteen million volumes. This number also makes it the third largest academic library overall, behind those of
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
and
Yale University
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
.
Undergraduate Library
The Undergraduate Library (Undergrad Library for short) is located due east of the Main Library and west of the
Morrow Plots __NOTOC__
The Morrow Plots is an experimental agricultural field at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Named for Professor George E. Morrow, it is the oldest such field in the United States and the second oldest in the world. It was esta ...
. The library consists of two underground levels with an open courtyard in the center. It is connected to the Main Library by way of a tunnel.
Smith Memorial Hall
Completed in 1920, Smith Memorial Hall was the first University building constructed from funds which were not state-appropriated. Built to house the
School of Music
A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger ins ...
, funds were provided by Thomas J. Smith, a lawyer and trustee of the university, as a memorial to his wife, Tina Weeden Smith. The designer was
James M. White, the University Architect. The building was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
.
Smith Hall is located between the Foreign Language Building and Foellinger Auditorium, but is off the Main Quad. The professors of voice, piano, and percussion have their offices there. The
Steinway
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway (), is a German-American piano company, founded in 1853 in Manhattan by German piano builder Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway). The company's growth led to the opening of a ...
grand
pianos
The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...
and
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
equipment are located in this building.
Observatory
The Observatory is located south of Smith Hall and north of the
Morrow Plots __NOTOC__
The Morrow Plots is an experimental agricultural field at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Named for Professor George E. Morrow, it is the oldest such field in the United States and the second oldest in the world. It was esta ...
. The building was designated as the
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
by the
Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government headquartered at the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street NW in Washington, D.C. It is responsible for the mana ...
in 1989 as the birthplace in the early 1900s of
photoelectric
The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons when electromagnetic radiation, such as light, hits a material. Electrons emitted in this manner are called photoelectrons. The phenomenon is studied in condensed matter physics, and solid sta ...
photometry Photometry can refer to:
* Photometry (optics), the science of measurement of visible light in terms of its perceived brightness to human vision
* Photometry (astronomy), the measurement of the flux or intensity of an astronomical object's electrom ...
through the work of Dr.
Joel Stebbins
Joel Stebbins (July 30, 1878 – March 16, 1966) was an American astronomer who pioneered photoelectric photometry in astronomy. He was director of the University of Illinois Observatory from 1903 to 1922 where he performed innovative work with th ...
. The Observatory is the site of frequent Astronomy Open House events and houses a 12-inch refractor telescope available for student and class use.
Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
The
Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) is ainterdisciplinaryfacility for genomics research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Institute was built in 2006 to centralize biotechnology research at the University o ...
is one of the newest facilities on campus and lies just east of the Morrow Plots. Completed in November 2006, the building houses researchers in Systems Biology, Cellular and Metabolic Engineering, and Genome Technology. Formerly known as Institute for Genomic Biology, the institute was established in 2003 to advance life science research and stimulate bio-economic development in the state of Illinois.
Bevier Hall
Bevier Hall, named for
Isabel Bevier, was built in 1955. It is immediately east of the newly built Institute for Genomic Biology.
Freer Hall
Originally known as the Women's Gymnasium, the Freer Hall was designed by architect
Charles A. Platt
Charles Adams Platt (October 16, 1861 – September 12, 1933) was a prominent American architect, garden designer, and artist of the "American Renaissance" movement. His garden designs complemented his domestic architecture.
Early career Pai ...
and was completed in 1931. Freer Hall is east of and across Goodwin Avenue from Bevier Hall. It is also part of the Division of Campus Recreation and houses a full swimming pool, gym, and facilities.
The Freer Hall is placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
as part of the schematic Platt nomination.
CRCE
The Campus Recreation Center – East (CRCE) is east of Freer Hall on the Gregory Drive. The facility was open in Spring 2005 and has of activity space with an aquatic center, racquetball courts, gymnasium and a 3-lane indoor track.
Bardeen (North) Engineering Quad
Located north of Green Street, the Bardeen Engineering Quad is home to buildings of the
College of Engineering
Engineering education is the activity of teaching knowledge and principles to the professional practice of engineering. It includes an initial education (bachelor's and/or master's degree), and any advanced education and specializations that ...
. The Engineering Campus is the colloquial name for the portions of campus surrounding the Bardeen Quadrangle and the Beckman Quadrangle at the
College of Engineering
Engineering education is the activity of teaching knowledge and principles to the professional practice of engineering. It includes an initial education (bachelor's and/or master's degree), and any advanced education and specializations that ...
. It is an area of approximately 30 square blocks, roughly bounded by Green Street on the south, Wright Street on the west, University Avenue on the north, and Gregory Street on the east.
South Quad
The South Quad lies south across Gregory Drive from the Undergraduate Library and the Main Quad and is home to numerous buildings that are part of the
College of ACES and the
College of Business
A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in business administration or management. A business school may also be referred to as school of management, management school, school of business administration, o ...
.
David Kinley Hall
David Kinley Hall (DKH) is home to the departments of Political Science and Economics, and is used for many classes in the College of LAS. David Kinley Hall is one of the northernmost buildings on the South Quad, lying directly across Gregory Drive from the Main Library. It is the last building by Charles Platt.
Surveying Building
The Surveying Building is located behind David Kinley Hall. It is one of the only two Jacobean style structure on the Urbana-Champaign campus.
Wohlers Hall
Wohlers Hall is primarily used for administrative offices within the College of Business and is located west of David Kinley Hall and the Architecture Building on Sixth Street.
Architecture Building
Designed by
Charles A. Platt
Charles Adams Platt (October 16, 1861 – September 12, 1933) was a prominent American architect, garden designer, and artist of the "American Renaissance" movement. His garden designs complemented his domestic architecture.
Early career Pai ...
, the Architecture Building is part of the
College of Fine and Applied Arts' School of Architecture. The Architecture Building lies on Lorado Taft Drive and is between David Kinely Hall and Wohlers Hall.
Notable features within the building includes ornamental metal works by
Louis Sullivan
Louis Henry Sullivan (September 3, 1856 – April 14, 1924) was an American architect, and has been called a "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism". He was an influential architect of the Chicago School, a mentor to Frank Lloy ...
and a cast of
Gates to Paradise
''Gates to Paradise'' is a 1968 film by Polish director Andrzej Wajda. The film is set in medieval France and is based on a novel by Polish writer Jerzy Andrzejewski (1960) that seeks to expose the motives behind youthful religious zeal. It was ...
of the
Florence Baptistry
The Florence Baptistery, also known as the Baptistery of Saint John ( it, Battistero di San Giovanni), is a religious building in Florence, Italy, and has the status of a minor basilica. The octagonal baptistery stands in both the Piazza del D ...
. The Temple Buell Architecture Gallery (TBAG) once housed the university-owned Gregory Plaster Cast collection.
Today, the building houses college's Ricker Library of Architecture and Art, named after the first graduate
Nathan C. Ricker. Today the Ricker Library contains more than 120,000 volumes and 33,000 serials, 35,000 microforms, and a small but burgeoning collection of videos, making it one of the largest of its kind in the United States. The Architecture Building is also the Home of main administrative office for the College of Fine & Applied Arts.
Mumford Hall
Mumford Hall is also on Gregory Drive and directly across the South Quad from David Kinley Hall. Mumford Hall is primarily used for administrative offices as well as classrooms for the College of ACES, and was named for former Dean of Agriculture Herbert W. Mumford.
Originally the Agriculture Building, the building was the first building on campus by
Charles A. Platt
Charles Adams Platt (October 16, 1861 – September 12, 1933) was a prominent American architect, garden designer, and artist of the "American Renaissance" movement. His garden designs complemented his domestic architecture.
Early career Pai ...
and the first planned project according to the campus master plan.
Mumford House
Mumford House is located north of the Temple Hoyne Buell Hall. Constructed in 1870 as a model farmhouse for the school's experimental farm, the Mumford House is the oldest structure on campus. The house was historically used as the official residence of the Dean of Agriculture, until the construction of the Davenport House on the site of today's Illini Union Bookstore. The farmhouse was named for former Dean of Agriculture Herbert W. Mumford and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
.
The university has proposed moving the structure to the south farm, where it would house a welcome center for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. However, such action would disqualify the Mumford House's current historic status. The structure was on the 2006 Top 10 Statewide Endangered List, published by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, a preservation advocacy group based in Chicago.
Furthermore, the building has endured substantial damage as a result of poor upkeep and neglect. Mumford House remains locked and unoccupied almost all year. The only time people are allowed inside the building is when second year architecture students carry out an in-depth building study of the structure as part of an architectural technology course. The inside of the house is completely empty, and much of the interior finishes are deteriorating due to poor heating management. In the most recent building study, the architecture students discovered that nobody had been inside the building since the previous winter, and that the heaters had been left on throughout the entire summer.
On Wednesday, 11 March 2009, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees met and Mumford House was discussed. Chairman Shah stated that "Chancellor Herman has assured me that there is no intention of relocating Mumford House." Shah and at least 4 other Trustees made strong statements in support of the house remaining in its original location. Board Secretary Michelle Thompson was instructed to draft a resolution for their next meeting, stating that the Mumford House shall remain in its original location permanently. Shah requested that by the September meeting, which will be back in Urbana, that Mumford House be a board item and that Chancellor Herman have architectural plans for the house.
ACES Library and Information and Alumni Center
The ACES Library and Information and Alumni Center dominates the northern end of the South Quad and can be seen from very far away, especially because of its unusual appearance and octagonal shape. The building officially terminates the "Military Axis".
Turner Hall
Turner Hall is east of the ACES Library and is part of the College of ACES and home of the Department of Crop Sciences.
Animal Sciences Laboratory
The Animal Sciences Lab is adjacent to Mumford Hall to the east on Gregory Drive and is connected to Madigan Lab.
Madigan Laboratory
Madigan Lab is also part of the College of ACES and is immediately east of the Animal Sciences Lab on Gregory Drive and faces Goodwin Avenue. It can be seen from as far away as the Siebel Center along Goodwin.
Temple Hoyne Buell Hall
Temple Hoyne Buell Hall is due south of David Kinley Hall on the South Quad and is part of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. It houses the graduate division of the School of Architecture, as well as the Department of Landscape Architecture and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.
The building, completed in 1997, is designed by
Perkins+Will
Perkins&Will is a global design practice founded in 1935. Since 1986, the group has been a subsidiary of Lebanon-based Dar Al-Handasah (Arabic: دار الهندسة). Phil Harrison has been the firm's CEO since 2006.
History
The firm was establ ...
, in honor and made possible by the school alumni and donor
Temple Hoyne Buell
Temple Hoyne Buell (September 9, 1895 – January 5, 1990) was an American architect, real estate developer and entrepreneur namesake of the Buell Theatre in Denver Center Complex, Buell & Company, and the Temple Buell Foundation.
Buell was bor ...
.
Agriculture Engineering Sciences Building
The Agriculture Engineering Sciences Building is directly east and across the South Quad from Buell Hall and is part of the College of ACES.
Wood Engineering Lab
The Wood Engineering Lab is tucked behind the Agriculture Engineering Sciences Building and is part of the College of ACES.
Natural Resources Building
The Natural Resources Building is in the southwest corner of the South Quad. It houses the Illinois State Geological Survey and the Illinois Natural History Survey.
Stock Pavilion
The Stock Pavilion is at the southern terminus of the South Quad and marks the southern boundary of the main campus. Designed for the stock judging purposes, the structure is vacant. Several proposals had been presented for its rehabilitation and
adaptive reuse
Adaptive reuse refers to the process of reusing an existing building for a purpose other than which it was originally built or designed for. It is also known as recycling and conversion. Adaptive reuse is an effective strategy for optimizing the o ...
, such as the home for the Ricker Library for Architecture and Arts.
Art East Annex Studio 1
Located directly east of the Agriculture Engineering Sciences Building and directly south of the ACES library, Art East Annex Studio 1 houses the work studios for all second year and some third year students in the school of architecture. Previously the space was used for painting and sculpting students in Art+Design, after being converted from its original use as a maintenance garage for University vehicles. The original building was called the Farm Mechanics Building (later renamed the Agricultural Engineering Building), and was built in 1907 at a cost of $41,500, including an $8,500 addition in 1911. The "Tractor Laboratory and Garage" (present day architectural studio space) was added in 1924 and 1928. The upper levels of the original building contain studios for metals students in Art+Design. The studios have been undergoing long overdue renovations since 2007. 2008 changes include networking upgrades, a wood shop, a spray painting room, and a printing studio with plotters, laser cutters, and a CNC Machine. Future plans include the installation of furniture and basic appliances for student lounge spaces throughout the building (announced at the Fall 2007 studio open house). The building and its additions were designed by architect James White.
Art East Annex Studio 2
Next door to the east of Art East Annex Studio 1, Art East Annex Studio 2 was constructed in 1905 at a cost of $18,000. The building was originally known as the Agronomy Building, and contained a field laboratory. The building now serves the school of Art+Design, and is undergoing upgrades similarly to Studio 1.
Flagg Hall
Flagg Hall is located on Fourth Street, neighboring Barton Hall and Noble Hall. Flagg Hall, formerly known as Flagg House, was built in 1953 and was a residence and dining hall. It is now used as studio space for students majoring in graphic design, industrial design, new media, and painting within the School of Art and Design. It holds a wood shop and finishing room in the basement. The building as a whole is in a state of disrepair.
Noble Hall
Noble Hall was built in 1952. Like Flagg Hall, it used to be a residence hall but is now affiliated with the College of Fine and Applied Arts. Its lower-level houses an ink lab, which makes available a selection of traditional ink printing and binding techniques. Noble Hall also offers research project and doctoral student workspace for the School of Urban and Regional Planning.
Art and Design Building
The Art and Design Building is located on the Northeast corner of Fourth and Peabody in Champaign. It was constructed during 1958–1959 and called the Art and Architecture building. It now houses the main office and classrooms for the School of Art and Design. The Link Gallery, which features university and high school student artwork throughout the year, connects the Art and Design building with the Krannert Art Museum. The A+D building hosts a variety of resources for Art Students. These include computer labs, printers, studio and workshop space, and a checkout window allowing students to rent equipment.
Siebel Center for Design
Opened in August 2022, the Siebel Center for Design is an interdisciplinary space with labs open to all students on campus. It was built partly with a $25 million gift from alumnus
Thomas Siebel
Thomas M. Siebel (; born November 20, 1952) is an American billionaire businessman, technologist, and author. He was the founder of enterprise software company Siebel Systems and is the founder, chairman, and CEO of C3.ai, an artificial intellig ...
.
Residence halls
University housing for undergraduates is provided through twenty-four residence halls in both
Urbana __NOTOC__
Urbana can refer to:
Places Italy
*Urbana, Italy
United States
*Urbana, Illinois
**Urbana (conference), a Christian conference formerly held in Urbana, Illinois
*Urbana, Indiana
* Urbana, Iowa
*Urbana, Kansas
* Urbana, Maryland
*Urbana, ...
and
Champaign
Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in Illinois outside the Chicago metropo ...
. All undergraduates living within the undergraduate halls are required to have a meal plan. Graduate housing is usually offered through two graduate residence halls, restricted to those in sophomore year or above, and through three university-owned apartment complexes. One of the newer residence halls, Nugent Hall, has rooms with Beckwith Residential Support Services for students with severe physical disabilities.
Urbana North
Busey–Evans
Busey Hall was the first residence hall built by the university, with its cornerstone laid on Saturday, October 21, 1916. Evans Hall was added in 1924–26. Men were the first occupants of the hall, but Busey and Evans have traditionally been female-only. Evans started housing men in fall 2019. They are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
.
Illinois Street (ISR)
Built in September 1964, The Illinois Street Residence Halls include the 5 story Townsend Hall and the 12 story Wardall Hall. Since 1977, the Illini Railroad Club has maintained a large model railroad layout in the basement of Townsend Hall. The Innovation Living Learning Community is housed within the building.
Lincoln Avenue (LAR)
LAR opened its doors in September 1949, originally known simply as the "Women's Residence Halls". It opened as an all female hall; however, starting in the fall of 2011, LAR was gradually converted to a co-ed hall. In 1984 its wings were named Leonard Hall and Shelden Hall. LAR is home to the Sustainability Living Learning Community as well as the Scholars Community.
Allen Hall
An addition to the west of the Lincoln Avenue Residence Halls (LAR), Allen Hall was built in 1958 and was originally all female, however it has since been converted to co-ed living. The first floor north wing is a "gender inclusive" community in which anyone can live in-room with another person of any gender identity. Allen is also home of "Unit One", the first living-learning community program at the University of Illinois, beginning in 1971. Unit One is known for a liberal arts feel within a large, Research 1 campus, and brings guests-in-residence to stay for a week at a time to do educational programming.
Urbana South
Florida Avenue (FAR)
FAR was completed in September 1966, FAR consists of Oglesby Hall and Trelease Hall. This complex is open to both men and women. FAR is home to the Health Professions Living Learning Community as well as the Women in Math, Science, and Engineering Community.
Pennsylvania Avenue (PAR)
PAR includes Babcock, Blaisdell, Carr, and Saunders Halls. Built in 1962, they were the first coeducational residence halls on campus, being split equally between men and women. Saunders Hall is home to the Global Crossroads Living Learning Community, while Babcock is home to the Intersections Living Learning Community.
Ikenberry Commons/Champaign
The residence halls in Champaign originally consisted of the Gregory Drive Residence Halls, the Peabody Drive Residence Halls, and the 4th Street Residence Halls.
The Gregory Drive Residence Halls consisted of Forbes Hall, Garner Hall, and Hopkins Hall.
The Peabody Drive Residence Halls consisted of Scott Hall, Snyder Hall, and Weston Hall.
These six halls were commonly nicknamed the "Six Pack" due to their identical, connected structures and due to the persona of the area being where partiers lived on campus.
Finally, the 4th Street Residence Halls consisted of Clark House, Barton House, Flagg House, Lundgren House, and Noble House. Taft Hall and Van-Doren Hall were later added, Barton and Lundgren were converted into halls, and the other buildings in the 4th Street Halls were repurposed.
To make room for newer residence halls, the housing department began tearing down older residence halls and buildings. The Illini Orange, a mailroom, snack bar, and bus stop, and the Peabody and Gregory Drive dining halls were demolished in 2008 to make room for the new Student Dining and Residential Programs Building (SDRP), which opened in 2010. Garner Hall was demolished in 2012 to make room for Nugent Hall, then Forbes Hall was demolished in 2013 to make room for Wassaja Hall.
The Champaign area was then renamed for the former University of Illinois president, Stanley Ikenberry, and the area became known as "Ikenberry Commons" in 2010.
Ikenberry North
The Ikenberry North neighborhood contains six halls: Barton, Lundgren, Hopkins, Weston, Nugent, and the newest hall, Wassaja. Barton and Lundgren opened in 1941 while Hopkins was built in 1958 (Weston, along with Scott and Snyder, opened in 1961). Half of Nugent Hall opened in 2010, and construction was completed on Nugent Hall in 2012. Wassaja opened in 2016. They are all located along Gregory Drive, First, and Fourth Streets. Hopkins is home to the LEADS Living Learning Community, Weston is home to the Weston Exploration Living Learning Community, Nugent is home to the Honors Living Learning Community and the Beckwith Residential Support Services program, and Wassaja is the home to the Business Living Learning Community which began in the fall 2018.
Students with disabilities are provided distinct housing options to accommodate their needs. The university is known for being one of the first universities to provide accommodations for students with disabilities.
Students with moderate to severe disabilities can opt to live in Nugent Hall, supported by the Beckwith Residential Support Services.
The Beckwith Program opened in 1981 and moved to Nugent Hall in 2010. Through the Beckwith program, students are assisted by an administrative team to fully learn full how to manage academic life, and personal life. The first floor of Nugent Hall is equipped with a wide array of accommodations such as a lift system, proximity card readers to open doors, a motion activated sink, and a wireless paging system to call staff. Similar features can also be found throughout the residence hall, such as automatic doors, an electric, hospital-style bed, automated sinks, and access to accessible exercise equipment.
Ikenberry South
The Ikenberry South Residence Halls include Scott, Snyder, Taft, Van-Doren, and Bousfield. They are located along Peabody Drive, Euclid, and Fourth Streets. Snyder Hall is the only substance-free residence hall on campus. Bousfield Hall opened in 2013 and is the first hall within University Housing community with single suite style rooms and double suites with a shared bath for four residents. Scott Hall is home to the Transfer Community.
Graduate student housing
Both Daniels and Sherman Hall are upperclassmen and graduate student residence halls. Currently, both Daniels and Sherman Hall house students that are in their sophomore year or beyond. Students who live in these halls are not required to purchase a meal plan.
University apartments
In lieu of privately owned apartments, the housing department also offers apartments instead of traditional dormitories. These apartments are most commonly utilized by graduate students, students with families, and faculty. Freshman cannot live in these apartments.
Orchard Downs is located about a mile from campus, Goodwin-Green is located near the Illinois Street Residence Halls, and Ashton Woods is located near the university's research park.
References
External links
University of Illinois LandmarksIllinois Great Placesâ€
The Main Quadrangle at the University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignSociety of Architectural Historians SAH ARCHIPEDIA entry on the Main Quadrangle at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Buildings and structures of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Illinois, University of, Urbana Champaign