University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Starts Renovations on Two Buildings

On the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, construction will begin soon on a $100-million replacement and renovation project for two campus buildings, according to a news release. Funding for the Illini Hall Replacement and Altgeld Hall Renovation Project is coming from the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital program, $40 million from the University of Illinois System’s Illinois Innovation Network, and $52 million from institutional contributions, the release reports.

The project entails the restoration of Altgeld Hall and the construction of a new, 140,000-square-foot replacement facility for Illini Hall, which is scheduled for demolition. Both spaces will see new classrooms, lecture spaces, and collaboration areas. The university will also get a new data science center under the umbrella of the Illinois Innovation Network.

“Our historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital plan leaves no aspect of infrastructure untouched—roads, bridges, transit systems, and educational facilities included,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “I couldn’t be happier to announce a joint investment from the state and our institutional partners to completely restore Altgeld Hall and construct a new facility to replace Illini Hall at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. From a state-of-the-art data science center to new lecture halls and classrooms, this project will provide UIUC students with the first-rate facilities they deserve as they embark on their educational journeys.”

The new Illini Hall will include a 4,614-square-foot auditorium and 12 new classrooms, and it will play home to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. It will also be designed and built to meet LEED Platinum Certification standards. Altgeld Hall will see repairs to its exterior stone veneer and bell tower. It will also get new accessibility features and new research space for the Illinois Geometry Lab and Illinois Risk Lab. All of the facility’s original murals will also be restored, according to the news release.

“The start of construction on this transformative facility is a historic movement for the entire university,” said Urbana Chancellor Robert J. Jones. “These new, innovative, tech-enabled spaces will rejuvenate the core of campus and become home to current and future generations of students and faculty pursuing excellence in data sciences and advanced analytics. These bold investments in our people and our programs will provide unparalleled educational experiences and deliver innovative research that improves lives and changes the world for the better.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Pfluger Architects Announces Promotions of Seven Staff Members

    Texas-based architecture firm Pfluger Architects recently announced that it has promoted seven staff members to senior-level positions. One of the promotions is that of Dallas-based Senior Project Architect Chad Martin to Principal, according to a news release.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Introduces Claude for Education

    Anthropic has launched a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • Image courtesy of Armstrong International

    The Modern Hot Water System Approach to Keep Higher Education Buildings Safe and Operational

    Higher education campuses face unique structural and operational demands. With a range of old and new buildings, a variety of facility types, and ambitious sustainability goals, it's essential that no aspect of infrastructural performance is overlooked. Facility managers must be equipped to provide a safe, reliable and efficient space for students, faculty and guests.

  • Active Learning Classroom

    Striking a Balance: The Keys to Renovating Science Education Buildings for the 21st Century

    The recent renovation of the Durham Science Center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) provides a roadmap for facilities managers tasked with balancing budget constraints, modern pedagogical demands, and long-term sustainability.

Digital Edition