University of Illinois Facilities and Services

The Chancellor’s Design Advisory Committee (CDAC) considers 40% of buildings and sites on the University of Illinois campus to be important, significant, or outstanding (see appendix 23) in terms of architectural or historical significance. Like the campus environment at many other major educational institutions, however, the facilities and building systems are degenerating much faster than they can be maintained. Aging infrastructure, high-maintenance building systems, and tight budgets challenge facility support efforts.

The campus commitment to preservation is based on five principles:

• preservation
• rehabilitation
• future development
• funding
• heritage

Each of these is directly related to the custodianship of campus historic resources and, thus, is an integral part in preservation planning. The university follows practices derived from these principles, the development of which in turn establishes goals for the future. The following principles reflect an effort on the part of the university to ensure consistent and harmonious decision-making, fulfilling the university’s role as custodian of campus historic assets.

Principle

Preserve the historic assets of the university.

Practice

Follow procedures for decision-making concerning historic assets and develop projects involving historic assets.

The preservation of the university’s historic assets is fundamental to sound custodianship of these resources. Projects involving these structures and open spaces require specific consideration during planning, and especially during “project conceptualization” -- a process prescribed in the Official Campus Planning Procedural Documents. The Chancellor’s Design Advisory Committee maintains an inventory of the campus’ historic assets and evaluates them as to significance, expressing that value in the preservation index (see appendix 26).

Principle

Respect the integrity of historic structures during rehabilitation and/or new construction.

Practice

Follow The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings as a guideline and disseminate Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings to campus facility support units, contractors, consultants, and any other party involved in new construction or rehabilitation.

The campus is continuously evolving in response to the changing demands of various academic programs and extracurricular activities. Occasionally, the fulfillment of these demands requires physical alterations to the campus’s historic assets. The intent of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards is to assist the long-term care of a property’s significance by providing guidance prior to treatment historic materials and features. The standards pertain to historic buildings of all materials, construction types, sizes, and occupancy and include the exterior and interior of the buildings. These standards also include related landscape features and the building’s site and environment, as well as attached, adjacent, or related new construction. Using the standards as a guideline, the campus may repair or alter a facility, making possible an efficient contemporary use, while preserving those portions and features of the property that are significant to the facility’s historic, architectural, and cultural values.

Principle

Seek private funding for the rehabilitation of the historic assets of the campus.

Practice

Annually review and update a list of development opportunities with the associate chancellor for development, who will work with the leadership of the principal campus units to include these opportunities appropriately among their targets for private funding.

Many campus historic assets require maintenance or rehabilitation to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and/or association. Though the preservation of historic assets is important to the campus, these projects compete with other pressing needs. Gifts from alumni and friends allow the campus to undertake projects beyond the means appropriated by the state of Illinois. Donors sympathetic to the preservation of a certain building play a vital role in the campus’ efforts to maintain the historic heritage of the campus environment.

Principle

Use heritage as an inspiration for new projects.

Practice

Include a preservation consultant when a facility project involves a site or building having exceptional historic significance. Develop a clause for University-architect agreements that requires site impact analysis for these projects.

The campus includes a wealth of historically significant structures and open spaces that future architects must consider as they design new buildings or rehabilitate existing buildings. Special attention should be given to new structures or additions planned to adjoin, annex, or be in view of existing historic assets. Scale, proportion, color, texture, and landscaping of new construction should complement existing structures and spaces. A preservation consultant is a necessary component of the building process when a project involves a resource having exceptional historic significance. The purpose of the site impact analysis clause within the University-architect agreement is not to inhibit designs, but rather to encourage designs that respect the integrity of historic structures and open spaces. This development strategy is intended to carry our rich architectural heritage from the past to the present and into the future