Main Library/FLB/Smith Hall/Institute for Genomic Biology

April 7th, 2015

Today we toured several different buildings around the main quad. These buildings included the Main Library, Foreign Language Building, Smith Hall, and the Institute for Genomic Biology. We started at the Main Library where it was evident how architects use spaces to convey all sorts of meaning. Having it been my first time entering and walking through the stacks of the library, I was immediately in awe of the size and planning that was involved while designing the building. When entering the main stacks, there is a feeling of space decreasing and crunching down upon you. Because the space is very limited and dark, it's kind of a creepy yet enchanting experience (and also the moving shelves remind me of Hogwarts). As one of the largest university libraries in the United States, it's clear that there are rightful bragging rights.

Next we entered the Foreign Language Building. The purpose of this building is to foster and create a space where the numerous amount of foreign languages offered can have their own resources and classrooms. Although many believe that the building's design is just plain weird and not cohesive with the rest of the main quad, the design actually tells a great story and allows its occupants to personally experience it. Professor Hinders proposed that the design was based off an inverted Tower of Babel, where the building opens up to the skies and heavens as it ascends higher. This theory was justified by the amount of open space and natural lighting from the upper floors.

Next on our list was Smith Memorial Hall. Being a building for hosting musical performances and classes, its design accommodated for mimicking the effects of a grand auditorium. One has to enter through a grand threshold entrance (consisting of tall pillars, an ascending staircase, and three set of doors) and it opens to large internal hallways. The large auditorium is adorned with intricate woodworking and beautiful interior designs lining the walls and stage. 

Lastly, we visited the Institute for Genomic Biology. Facing the same problem of UGL, and not being able to have a design with a tall height because of the Morrow Plots, the Institute instead builds down into the ground. I personally really enjoy the design of this building for it creates a modern vibe through its materials and architecture. For example, the stairs are made of glass and are held by a metal framework and the materials are all modern and eco-friendly.

Construction Site

April 2nd, 2015

Today we were given a tour of the construction site for University of Illinois' newest building addition, the Center for Wounded Veterans. This project has a couple of months to go before it is ready to be open to the public, so it was a great learning experience to see the building during its construction process. Being a building of the College of Applied Health Sciences, we had the opportunity to talk to one of the head developers and overseers of the project.

Although, this tour focused on the actual construction and building of an architect's design, it is important to realize that an architect also has the responsibility to oversee their design and assure that all the constructors are following the specific plans. This center is meant to become a rehabilitation center for University of Illinois' Veterans of wars with or without disabilities. Because this building will have to house and provide services for handicapped veterans, its design needed to accommodate all those additional regulations. 

The building's structure was basically in tact and built, and the framework was already complete. We were able to see the electrical and plumbing systems being set up, as well as the elevators and the plans for the large kitchen area. After choosing this Nevada Street location after being given 10 different options, the developers and architects truly understand and have accommodated successfully to whom the building will serve.

Mount Hope Cemetery

March 31st, 2015

Today's tour was a bit different from the buildings that we have looking at these past couple of months, for we weren't actually touring a building but instead a plot of land dedicated to the dead- the Mount Hope Cemetery. Because death and cemeteries aren't usually talked about, this experience was a new one for me. We started our tour at the Mausoleum where we saw where the wealthier families were buried and their urns were placed. From observing all of these family names, we were able to picture the rich history that Champaign-Urbana has to offer. As we moved through the Cemetery, we were able to see numerous grave stones and the system that they were separated by- whether it be by religion, ethnicity, or social status. Even the material of the gravestones served as another sign of social status or the time of their death. 

In addition to headstones denoting Catholics, Jews, and other religious burials/gravestones, there was a private area lot dedicated to veterans of the United States Military. On each of their headstones there were notes of where they served and any honors that they were granted. In contrast to the rest of the cemetery, these headstones had the feature where they were flush with the ground and easily blended in with the ground. 

The rest of the cemetery belonged to the wealthy prominent family names of Champaign-Urbana. Their headstones were much larger and some even had their own sectioned-off area with areas to sit. For example, the Atkins family headstones were very large and made of the finest materials. There were a section marked off by smaller stones and there was a large stone monument (a design similar to the Washington Monument) that was dedicated to the family name. This became a clear indication of the family's importance to the community and university. 

Campus town/Green Street

March 17th, 2015

This week, we had the opportunity to expand our knowledge about an area we typically walk on; Green Street and Campus town. The bustling, commercial street that we as students walk everyday was once a underdeveloped land of single-family homes. This very street has certainly grown into the most popular and well-known street in campus town. Starting off as an area somewhat destroyed by overflow and flooding of the Boneyard Creek, it quickly built a new retention system and fixed its planning issues within the community. 

Once bars and apartments started being built on Green, the houses were strategically covered up, therefore leaving the original structures standing. In addition, high-rise apartment complexes and popular restaurants brought a new crowd of students and spectators. Although students complained that Green Street's urban appeal and feel decreased when walking westward, this problem was fixed by new regulations and modifications for the storefronts and sidewalks. 

Because of the booming popularity from restaurants, bars, and newly constructed apartment complexes Green Street and Campus town made a complete transformation from its original layout. By adapting to its changing environment and the college student life, Green Street and Campus town represent the ever-changing nature of urban planning and architecture. 

Downtown Champaign

March 10, 2015

Founded in 1855 and originally known as "West Urbana", Champaign eventually flourished and became its own individual city. Champaign started its roots with the Illinois Central Railroad and the railroad station. It has become the central hub of the city community and the rest of the roads extend from the station. A building that also serves as a central hub is the Champaign City Building or the city hall building. This building sits upon the continental grid that once separated the land into parcels meant to be sold. 

Around the 1980s city officials decided to close vehicular traffic on Neil Street to try and create a pedestrian mall, but once business drastically declined Neil Street opened once again. Another factor that led to the growth of downtown Champaign was the "north Prospect" shopping district and the opening of bars in the community. 

We ended our tour at the West Side Park. Originally meant to house the courthouse and other public buildings, it now serves as a wide open space for the community and its gatherings. 

Business Instructional Facility

March 3rd, 2015

I recently stepped into the Business Instructional Facility for the first time. Because I walk past the building everyday on my way to class, I have always admired the appealing exterior modern design. It is a building that stands out from its surroundings and is rightfully one of the most impressive buildings on campus. Designed by architect Cesar Pelli, BIF is one of fifteen buildings on campus that was awarded the highest rating of platinum on the U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certification exam. BIF's energy-efficiency and environmentally-friendly design allows the building to serve as an aspiration for future UIUC's buildings. 

Although there are several unnecessary designs included just to achieve a higher level of points, some of BIF's design features reflect modern architecture and its sustainable outlook for the future. For example, the main lobby welcomes an abundance of natural light through the massive wall windows thus decreasing the need for artificial electrical lighting. Because more windows means more heat, the large overhang of the roof is necessary to shade and try to eliminate the overheating of the atrium floor. In addition to the overhang, BIF has a high performance insulation running through the entirety of the walls and windows in order to cool the building when necessary. 

Another green and environmentally-friendly design component is the roof. We had the opportunity to look at the roof gardens on the side edges of the building roof. Apparently these plants reduce rain run-off and the impact of heat on the HVAC of the building. These plants were also specifically chosen for their regional use and ability to thrive without continuous irrigation and care. 

In the end, although the Business Instructional Facility is considered a platinum rank for LEED certification, there are several factors of the design that are considered to be useless or unnecessary. Regardless, BIF is a great example of a modern architecture that greatly considers sustainability and timeless design. It will continue to serve as a prime example of what future buildings should be designed in the upcoming years. 

Armory, Huff, and the Football Practice Facility

February 17th, 2015

Today we focused on observing structural systems within the Armory, Huff hall, and the Football Practice Facility. In these buildings we were able to view the steel trusses and girders that essentially hold up the entirety of the structures' ceilings. Not only do these basic elements provide necessary structural support, but they also provide additional aesthetic to the interior of these buildings.

We started our tour in Huff Hall and had the opportunity of entering the main gym. To accommodate the immensity of the gym itself, its trusses and beams met at their highest point in the middle of the gym, thus giving the roof an arching effect. Similarly, the Armory also had an arching effect in its roof. Because the Armory itself is much larger than Huff and the Football Practice Facility, its roof structural system included a large set of pins connecting the two extending sides. 

In the Irwin Football Practice Facility, the structural roof system is a little bit different than Huff and Armory. Being under a constraint of not having the building appear as a wall between the art and law buildings on campus, the architect had to create a severely sloped roof to allow for a shorter roof height. 

Through observing the interior of all three of these buildings, we are able to understand the purpose of the roof plans. The structural systems consisting of trusses, girders, beams, and joists all offer support and aesthetic for these buildings.