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.