Illinois State University is breaking ground on a major capital project that will reshape its fine arts campus for decades to come. The $82.7 million transformation of the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts marks the start of a multi-year, state-funded construction program scheduled for completion in 2028. With demolition, new construction, additions, and targeted renovations all included, the project represents one of the most complex academic construction efforts currently underway in central Illinois.
Backed by the State of Illinois Capital Development Board, the project reflects a long-term commitment to modernizing creative and performance spaces while maintaining continuity for academic programs during construction.
The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts is comprised of several interconnected facilities owned and operated by Illinois State University. The approved project scope includes:
1 - Demolition of Centennial West
2 - Construction of a new Commons Building in its place
3 - Combination of renovations and additions to Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts
The Commons Building will serve as a central hub for students, faculty, and staff, replacing the aging Centennial West facility with modern academic and collaboration space. Additions to the Center for Performing Arts and the Center for the Visual Arts will expand instructional and performance capacity, while selective renovations to Centennial East will update interior spaces to current academic and accessibility standards.
Interior renovation work in existing buildings is scheduled for the summers of 2026 and 2027. This phased approach is designed to minimize disruption to teaching schedules and public programming during the academic year.
Construction crews have secured the southeast corner of the Quad to begin the first phase of work, which includes demolition of Centennial West. Parking lots F-26 and the South University parking lot were closed and secured beginning October 27, 2025, and portions of the site are expected to remain inaccessible through December 31, 2027.
Chicago Construction News reports that demolition on an active campus requires careful sequencing, safety controls, and coordination with university operations. Temporary facilities were prepared in advance to allow students, faculty, and staff to relocate before demolition began. In 2019, the Board of Trustees approved $15 million to renovate four campus locations to serve as swing space, with occupants moving into those facilities in 2022.
With construction taking place near heavily used pedestrian corridors, Illinois State University has implemented detailed traffic control and rerouting plans. Pedestrian traffic along Constitution Trail near Beaufort Street is being detoured using Fell Avenue and College Avenue, with an alternate route provided via University Street and West Virginia Avenue to the Camelback Bridge trail entrance.
Sidewalk access near South School Street and Beaufort Street is being redirected to designated crosswalks, with signage and wayfinding installed as required under a temporary traffic control permit issued by the Town of Normal. These measures are essential to maintaining campus safety while allowing construction activities to proceed efficiently.
In parallel with the main transformation project, the university has already completed restroom and plumbing upgrades in the Center for the Visual Arts and Centennial East through a separate state-funded capital renewal initiative. Completing this work in advance reduces risk during the larger renovation phases and improves building performance before interior modernization begins.
Illinois State University News reports that the fine arts transformation is part of a broader construction portfolio underway at Illinois State. Renovations are nearing completion at 1709 General Electric Road in Bloomington, the future home of the College of Engineering, with substantial completion expected this summer. The university has also received approval to install a solar energy system at that site, projected to offset 80 to 90 percent of its electricity usage.
Planning and design are also moving forward on the South Campus Housing and Dining Project, which includes a 900-bed residence hall and a 450-seat dining center on the former site of Atkin-Colby and Hamilton-Whitten residence halls. Pre-construction services were approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2025, placing the project on a parallel timeline with the fine arts work.
Together, these initiatives signal a sustained period of construction activity across the Illinois State campus, with significant opportunities for contractors, consultants, and skilled trades through the remainder of the decade.
The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation is expected to engage a wide range of construction trades, including:
Selective demolition and abatement contractors
Site preparation and earthwork crews
Cast-in-place and structural concrete trades
Structural steel and miscellaneous metals
Masonry restoration and new façade installation
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors
Fire protection and life safety system installers
Interior framing, drywall, and acoustical ceiling trades
Specialty theater and performance space contractors
Roofing, waterproofing, and envelope specialists
Hardscape, landscape, and site restoration crews
Initially appropriated in Fiscal Year 2010, the fine arts transformation experienced years of delays and re-appropriations before receiving final approval from the Illinois Capital Development Board. With funding secured and construction now underway, the project is entering its most visible phase.
By 2028, Illinois State University expects the transformed Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts to offer expanded capacity, modernized facilities, and a cohesive campus environment that supports both academic excellence and community engagement.