Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Illinois Breaks Ground on $105M Business School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/20/23

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, Ill., recently broke ground on a new facility for the Gies College of Business, according to local news. Wymer Hall, named after alumnus Steven S. Wymer—who donated $25 million towards the building’s construction—will measure in at 100,000 square feet and will cost an estimated $105 million. The building is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024, local news reports.

According to the university website, the hybrid educational facility will play home to collaboration spaces, flexible and traditional classrooms, informal learning spaces, content creation studios, and administrative space. Its expanded studio spaces and recording facilities will ease the creation of online courses and programs for the entire campus.

“The future of business education will include online, residential, and hybrid learning,” said Jeffrey R. Brown, business professor, in a news release. This new facility is designed for the future and with that vision in mind. Even what we think of as ‘traditional’ classrooms will be able to support all types of learning and that’s going to enable us to deliver a powerful education in exciting new ways.”

Amenities will include a 200-seat auditorium, two 80-seat classrooms, and four 60-seat classrooms; two sound stages five black-box studios, and six control booths; 18 meeting and collaboration spaces; and 84 office spaces, according to the university website.

The university partnered with LMN Architects and Booth Hansen for the project’s design.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • St. Lucie County, Fla., Breaks Ground on New K–8 School

    St. Lucie Public Schools in St. Lucie County, Fla., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new K–8 school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., for the design of the upcoming Ft. Pierce K–8 School, which comprises six buildings covering 215,000 square feet.

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • Lawrence Group Announces Three New Hires

    Integrated planning and design firm Lawrence Group, based in St. Louis, Mo., recently welcomed three new staff members, according to a news release.

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.