Construction will begin on the $100 million investment for the Illini Hall Replacement and Altgeld Hall Renovation Project at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus. The funding is made possible by the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital program, together with $40 million from the University of Illinois System's Illinois Innovation Network and $52 million in institutional contributions.
The project will include the following:
- Complete restoration of Altgeld Hall
- Demolition of Illini Hall
- Construction of a new 140,000 square foot facility to replace Illini Hall
- New data science center as part of the Champaign-Urbana hub of the U of I System-led Illinois Innovation Network
- New classrooms, lecture spaces and collaboration areas will be added to both buildings
- A new 4,614 square foot auditorium will be constructed for Illini Hall along with a dozen new classrooms
Fox Illinois News states that the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) has prepped the construction site for the demolition of Illini Hall with asbestos abatement already underway.
A portion of the new building will host the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The new Illini Hall will be designed and constructed to meet LEED Platinum Certification; the highest level of certification possible from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The demolition of Illini Hall marks the first phase of the multi-phase project slated to conclude in 2026.
"Our historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital plan leaves no aspect of infrastructure untouched - roads, bridges, transit systems, and educational facilities included. I couldn't be happier to announce a joint investment from the state of 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."
Governor of Illinois | J.B. Pritzker
Chronicle Media reports that the exterior of Altgeld Hall will receive extensive repairs to the stone veneer and the bell tower which will continue to serve as a historical campus landmark, prior to beginning the interior renovations.
Altgeld Hall's renovations will also include:
- New accessibility features
- Complete restoration of the building's original murals
- New research space for the Illinois Geometry Lab
- The Illinois Risk Lab will be added to the building
- New tutoring rooms and classrooms
Altgeld Hall, which was added to the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1970, was constructed in 1896-1897 and was first used as the University Library. In 1927, Altgeld Hall became the home of the College of Law. The Mathematics Department became the residents of Altgeld Hall in 1956. A centennial celebration was held in June 16, 1997.