New toilet paper, hand towel, and hand soap dispensers are being installed in restrooms across campus as part of the ongoing Building Services Transformation initiative. The first set of 18 buildings was completed in 2024, and additional buildings are being upgraded every subsequent semester.

The new dispensers are more durable and are often utilized in high-traffic areas, such as airports, conference centers, stadiums, and arenas. Participating vendors perform walkthroughs of these restrooms to obtain an accurate count of the dispensers in each building. They also take precise measurements to ensure that the specific designs would fit appropriately in existing locations, with every effort made to minimize the need for follow-up repairs.

The project also strengthens Building Services’ commitment to enhancing sustainability in all aspects of custodial operations. The units will help reduce unintended product waste, utilize green cleaning supplies, and provide greater service consistency and efficiency – eliminating the need to stock multiple non-standardized products for refill. Also, all previous metal and plastic dispenser parts that can be recycled are being diverted from the landfill at the Waste Transfer Station as part of campus’ zero waste efforts.

January 2026 Dispenser Upgrade Locations

• 1205 W. Nevada Street
• 508 S. Sixth Street
• Agricultural Bioprocess Laboratory
• Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building
• Animal Sciences Laboratory
• Architecture Annex
• Astronomy Building
• Ceramics Building
• Ceramics Kiln House
• Children’s Research Center
• Construction Engineering Research Laboratory – Schnabel Laboratory
• Doris Kelley Christopher Hall
• Engineering Hall
• Engineering Sciences Building
• English Building
• Harker Hall
• Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory
• Law Building
• Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
• Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory
• Nuclear Radiation Laboratory
• Office Of Admissions and Records Building
• Plant Sciences Laboratory
• Police Training Institute – Tactical Training Center
• Quonset #7
• Quonset #8
• School of Information Sciences Building
• School Of Labor and Employment Relations
• Seitz Materials Research Laboratory
• Speech and Hearing Science
• Superconductivity Center
• Swine Research Center
• Transportation Building
• Turner Hall
• Turner Greenhouses
• Turner Student Services Building
• University High School
• University High School Gymnasium
• Waste Transfer & Materials Recovery Facility
• Wood Engineering Laboratory

For questions about this work and the Building Services Transformation Initiative, contact Macie Sinn Sinn1@illinois.edu, 217-244-0909.

TOILET PAPER

The Tork dispensers utilize two-ply paper and feature user-friendly ergonomics. The units are fully enclosed, which supports more sanitary conditions for tissue storage and less unintended usage.

HAND TOWELS

The Tork hand towel dispensers consist of a pull system, transitioning from the reliance on large stub rolls. This setup delivers better individual towel quality and helps maintain overall capacity and availability.

SOAP

Ecolab’s dispenser design includes a transparent slot where BSWs can check soap levels quickly for faster service. The units contain reusable cartridges to help limit waste, while keyed entry and product fitment aspects discourage misuse.