Summer Construction 2021

More than 30 facility and road improvement projects are underway on the Urbana this summer. These efforts include the upcoming substantial completion of the transformative Siebel Center for Design at Illinois and Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building renovation and addition.

The F&S Capital Programs division helps lead construction and project management for projects that have a total budget of $250,000 or more. Because of their scope and visibility, these capital projects help tell the story of the university, whether that’s in rehabbing culturally relevant buildings through new construction, major renovations, or deferred maintenance programming. 

F&S continues to coordinate with university and unit or leadership to ensure that the various phases of active capital projects continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are proud to have continued as many projects as possible during these challenging times,” said Ehab Kamarah, director of capital programs. “F&S plays an essential role in the day-to-day operations of the university, but also in large-scale planning and management. Our professionals have been able to stay productive to meet the needs of the university, while also finding ways to adjust to a new normal of health and safety procedures on-site.”

Project Summaries

1. SIEBEL CENTER FOR DESIGN AT ILLINOIS
The innovative 60,000 GSF design center facility will transform campus with a facility dedicated to design thinking. The center will be the point of convergence where the campus community discusses, questions, thinks, gets inspired, dreams, conceptualizes, invents, creates, and innovates. The design center will convene people and immerse them in meaningful challenges for which they design solutions (see https://designcenter.illinois.edu/).

2. DIVISION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS – BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL TRAINING CENTERS 
The new 23,500 GSF indoor training facility for Illini Baseball will include space for a complete baseball infield, an adjacent player and recruiting lounge, and pitching and batting areas with retractable netting for player development. The Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center will connect to the existing Illinois Field baseball clubhouse, locker rooms, training rooms, and offices. A new paved parking area and entrance gateway to Illinois Field will be also be added from Kirby Avenue. The facility will give Illini Baseball an around-the-clock training center that will allow athletes to excel at the highest level with the goal of winning Big Ten championships and competing to reach the College World Series and play for national titles. (More at https://fightingillini.com/facilities/susan-and-clint-atkins-baseball-training-center/41)

3. DIVISION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS – BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL TRAINING CENTERS 
The new 12,440 GSF Rex and Alice A. Martin Softball Training Center will be constructed adjacent to Eichelberger Field. The center will include a full infield as well as hitting and pitching cages. The facility will also feature an expanded player lounge, new recruiting lobby, and hall of fame area. Both of these new facilities will enrich the sports program for Illinois athletes providing greater opportunities for personal and team development.

4. ILLINOIS FIELD  – PARKING LOT, SIDEWALK AND UTILITY REPLACEMENT 
The work will upgrade existing site utilities at both Illinois Field and Eichelberger Field in coordination with the construction of the Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center and Rex and Alice A. Martin Softball Training Center. Improvements will be made to parking lot areas, sidewalks, and overall site drainage.

5. EICHELBERGER FIELD – PARKING LOT, SIDEWALK AND UTILITY REPLACEMENT 
The work will upgrade existing site utilities at both Illinois Field and Eichelberger Field in coordination with the construction of the Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center and Rex and Alice A. Martin Softball Training Center. Improvements will be made to parking lot areas, sidewalks, and overall site drainage.

6. SIDNEY LU MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BUILDING – RENOVATION AND ADDITION
The Mechanical Engineering Building renovation and addition project will cultivate a healthy, inspiring, and aesthetically pleasing space for students, staff, and faculty occupying the building. Approximately 66,000 GSF will be touched up, and 42,000 GSF of space will be added as part of this project. The full scope includes a new five-level, 30,000 GSF addition, and 3,400 GSF to infill the existing courtyard. (More at https://mechanical.illinois.edu/news/introducing-sidney-lu-mechanical-engineering-building-illinois)

7. NOYES LABORATORY – EMERGENCY MASONRY RECONSTRUCTION 
8. MADIGAN LABORATORY – EMERGENCY MASONRY RECONSTRUCTION 
9. WOHLERS HALL – EMERGENCY MASONRY RECONSTRUCTION 
The projects will remove completely reconstruct existing masonry chimneys and firewalls at Noyes Laboratory, Madigan Laboratory, and Wohlers Hall. The inactive chimneys will be removed and capped at the roof level.  Any associated equipment will also be removed from flat roof areas with membrane roofs replaced. These repairs were identified as a part of the F&S Deferred Maintenance Program.

LIFE SAFETY UPGRADES AND ROOM 141 RENOVATION
Wohlers Hall, primarily used by the Gies College of Business, is one of the top 10 most utilized facilities on campus for general assignment classrooms. This project will greatly improve the safety of building occupants and university property by installing an automatic fire suppression system and modernizing the addressable fire alarm system. The work will also remove six dead-end corridors will establish a safer means of egress from the building in case of emergency, and improve the campus experience for all uses and visitors and upgrade to meet compliance with current codes and university standards. Replacement of the suspended ceiling tile system in areas affected by life safety installation will also be included in the project, as will finish upgrades and new seating in the lecture hall 141 and new water service to the facility.

10. OGLESBY HALL (FLORIDA AVENUE RESIDENCE HALLS) – WINDOW REPLACEMENT
All existing metal frame windows and exterior doors on the north and south sides will be replaced before the beginning of the fall semester. The current windows, single pane glass with an aluminum sash, are a part of the original building construction in 1965. The upgrade will help improve the building’s energy efficiency and enhance occupant comfort.

11.  KRANNERT CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS (KCPA) – ACCESSIBILITY AND ELEVATOR UPGRADES
The project will improve accessibility in the Colwell Playhouse and modernize public elevators one and two in KCPA, which are original to the 1969 construction of the facility. KCPA’s design and construction occurred before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Illinois Accessibility Code. These upgrades will provide improved functionality and an overall better experience for individuals with disabilities while visiting the facility. Due to the current supply chain disruptions for elevator components, the elevator work is expected to be performed in summer 2022.

12. FEED MILL – DEMOLITION
The decommissioning of the original Feed Mill will occur after the facility was replaced by the opening of the new Illinois Feed Technology Center. The first phase of the work will be removing the scale house on the corner, the truck scale house, and the feed storage plant. That work will be completed in mid-June. The grain bin and the two remaining buildings (mixer/distributor and feed house) will be removed starting in August. Following any salvage opportunities, a large excavator will be used to decommission the various buildings in sections. The first phase will last approximately a month. The second phase is expected to be completed over two-to-three months.

13. STATE FARM CENTER – NORTHEAST PARKING LOT RECONSTRUCTION
The project will repair select sections of cracked and settled concrete drive aisles. Additionally, the work will include resurfacing the bituminous surface, performing subgrade repair/stabilization under all asphalt portions of the lot, adding ADA enhancements, replacing sections curbs, restriping parking spaces, and improving drainage through inlet adjustments and new green stormwater infrastructure such as curb cuts and landscaping plant materials.

14. UBBEN BASKETBALL COMPLEX EXPANSION
The Richard T. Ubben Basketball Complex will be expanded and modernized with upgraded features to help the development of Illini student-athletes that allow them to achieve at the highest levels athletically and beyond. This project will double the size of the current facility to approximately 81,000 GSF. The interior of the existing facility will be remodeled as well with a new entry created from St. Mary’s Road. The enhanced entry will include a circle drive and parking for recruits and their families as well as a large glass-enclosed recruiting lounge complete with memorabilia, uniform, and shoe displays. The entry-level will also provide new coaches’ offices and meeting rooms.

The lower level will provide a complete sports medicine area with treatment and recovery areas including hydrotherapy pools. The facility will also include new locker rooms, player lounges, team meeting rooms, and other amenities. The project will convert the existing office and team areas into a large training area and a study room that will also be used for team dining. The project will expand the basketball practice courts to include two additional half-court areas. An opening will be created between the men’s and women’s courts so the sides can be shared when only one team is practicing. (See https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/4/21/general-pledges-flood-in-for-illinois-basketball-ubben-basketball-complex.aspx)

15. ATKINS GOLF CLUB – CLUBHOUSE AND RESTAURANT RENOVATION
Improvements will be made to the existing clubhouse and restaurant facilities at the newly acquired Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois. The work will include complete renovations of the existing space layouts, finish upgrades, new furnishings, and casework. The existing formal restaurant space in the north building, formerly known as Kennedy’s, will be remodeled to provide an upscale golf clubhouse complete with a large retail area for Fighting Illini branded athletic apparel. The clubhouse will also include a student-athlete lounge for the men’s and women’s golf teams. The existing less formal clubhouse restaurant in the south building, formerly known as Attie’s, will be provided with minor remodeling and new finishes. Upgraded finishes will also be provided to the banquet room located on the second floor of the south building. (More at https://fightingillini.com/facilities/atkins-golf-club/39. 

16. PSYCHOLOGY LABORATORY – EXTERIOR REPAIRS
Exterior construction work on the Psychology Building will include reconstructing and repairing the masonry walls of the existing penthouses and plaza walls. This effort, which supports roof and skylight replacement work performed in 2015, will include tuckpointing, cleaning, and minor brick replacement in these areas. The existing sealant will be removed and a new sealant will be applied. In addition, limestone-clad areas, and areas around the windows, on the west and north sides of the building will be cleaned, and joint sealants removed and replaced with new sealant. The project will also replace refuse elevator number four on the south side of the building in front of the dock area. A new protective canopy roof and a louvered aluminum enclosure will be designed over the elevator doors and dock area, supported by a new structural steel framing on the south, and flashed into and supported by the existing walls of the original building to the north. Proactive modifications will be made to the loading dock driveway area to address stormwater runoff near the general elevator area.

RESTROOM RENOVATION
All of the restrooms within the facility will be upgraded, including the finishes and fixtures. The work with address ADA improvements, and additional numbers of all gender will be created.

17. DAVENPORT HALL – WEST RENOVATION
The project will renovate the west wing of historic Davenport Hall. The general assignment classrooms, public spaces, and certain departmental classrooms and spaces will be fully renovated. New HVAC systems, fire suppression sprinklers, elevator modernization, and electrical service will be included in the project. The windows on the west wing that still have window-mounted air conditioning units will be removed and replaced in conjunction with the HVAC upgrades. Also, the west entrance to the building will be examined to create an accessible entrance. This project will focus on transforming high-student use areas into modern spaces and providing highly visible improvements in public areas.

18. BEVIER HALL – WINDOWS
All existing windows at Bevier Hall will be replaced except for the glass block windows at the stairwells. The storefront glazing around the entrances on the west side of the building will also be replaced. All window-mounted air conditioning units will be removed as part of these upgrades. This infrastructure renovation will help improve energy efficiency at Bevier Hall, which was constructed in 1956.

19. CENTRAL CAMPUS PARKING STRUCTURES C7 & C10
Central campus parking structures C7 and C10 will be completely renovated. The project will focus on the installation of a supplemental steel beam support system to replace the existing post-tensioning system. Additional enhancements will include repairs to concrete, restorations to the building façade through the replacement of coping stones and flashing, various brick repairs, installation of protective screening at the top level and all exterior above grade openings on all levels of both structures, application of new waterproofing systems, stair upgrades, and major improvements and maintenance to mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The restoration will also include the restoration of the C7 elevator and the installation of a new elevator at C10.

20. PLANT SCIENCES LABORATORY – ROOF
This project will replace the existing membrane roof and related assemblies, including flashing, metal fascia, etc. To provide a complete and watertight installation, the work will raise the roof curbs of mechanical equipment, add insulation to meet the current building code requirements and replace any wet insulation, raise the parapet height, replace existing metal parapet cap, provide lightning protection and Occupational Safety and Health Administration-compliant fall protection. The project will also remove existing mechanical equipment associated with a cooling tower. New structure will fill the opening with roofing installed in that location.

21. CIVIL ENGINEERING HYDROSYSTEMS LABORATORY – RENOVATION AND EXPANSION
The effort to expand and renovate the Civil Engineering Hydrosystems Laboratory reflects progressive and transformative thinking. The project goal is to develop instructional space that will support new pedagogical approaches, in turn allowing students to examine civil and environmental issues, explore, experiment, and experience overall success in their fields of interest. The vision of the aforementioned projects is to ensure continued leadership in the university’s civil and environmental engineering education endeavors. The project will modernize the facilities to match the faculty’s pedagogical innovation, enhance hands-on laboratory experiences, and integrate learning with grand societal challenges. Geothermal energy foundations were installed in the facility. This innovative method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions will incorporate conventional geothermal heat exchanger loops in the foundation of a new “smart” suspension pedestrian bridge that will connect the Hydrosystems Laboratory addition to the Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory across Main Street in Urbana. The project is striving for U.S. Green Building Council LEED^® Gold certification for sustainable building design.

22. VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL – SMALL ANIMAL SURGERY RENOVATION & EXPANSION
This project will renovate the existing small animal surgery and adjacent services and construct a building addition to house additional surgery procedure rooms and supporting spaces. The project will focus on the renovation and expansion of the surgery suite as well as the critical care services including the emergency department and intensive care unit. This renovation and expansion shall incorporate contemporary standards for separation between clean and dirty instruments and supplies along with improved staff and patient flow. The project will also bring about accommodations for students to observe and assist in the operating room environment.

23. BLAISDELL HALL (PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE RESIDENCE HALLS) – PHASE 3 REPLACEMENT OF MECHANICAL ROOM SLAB & UTILITIES
The project will design the permanent replacement of the ceiling slab of the Blaisdell Hall (Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Halls) housing complex mechanical room. A previous project installed steel framing and confirmed that the ceiling slab in the mechanical room required additional shoring and replacement. Multiple systems, such as electrical feeds, will also be upgraded and rerouted during installation of the new slab. 

24. DEMIRJIAN INDOOR GOLF FACILITY – ADDITION  
As addition will be added to the Demirjian Indoor Golf Facility, which was built in 2006. The 2,000 GSF will add new state of the art elements to assist our athletes in achieving their performance goals. The work will produce several hitting bays, a state-of-the-art putting studio, and additional storage space. A second glass-enclosed rotunda will also be added to the existing facility. This space will house the putting studio and enable the team to gain new technological feedback with cutting-edge analysis.

25. ATKINS TENNIS CENTER – COURT SURFACE REFINISHING
This project consists of regular maintenance to resurface all the outdoor tennis courts at Atkins Tennis Center. The existing Kahn Outdoor Tennis Complex courts require resurfacing and re-striping in preparation for the NCAA tennis championships to be held in the spring of 2022. F&S staff will paint lines and logos on all of the courts as a part of this effort.

26. BECKMAN INSTITUTE – ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
27. CHEMICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES LABORATORY – ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
28. ROGER ADAMS LABORATORY – ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
29. NATURAL RESOURCES STUDIES ANNEX – ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
30. ILLINOIS SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY CENTER – ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
31. FORBES NATURAL HISTORY BUILDING – ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
The projects will deliver a guaranteed energy savings contract to be completed in conformance with the provisions of the public university energy conservation act. An energy services company (ESCO) has been selected through a request for proposal process to serve as a qualified provider. An investment grade audit is used to develop final scope prior to entering into an energy services agreement. Energy conservation measures will include various HVAC controls, window replacements, lighting, and water conservation measures.

A. ST. MARY’S ROAD RECONSTRUCTION
St. Mary’s Road between Neil Street and Oak Street will be closed for comprehensive road and sidewalk improvements until mid-August. Please be aware that with this closure, Oak Street will be northbound traffic only at the intersection of St. Mary’s Road. Bicyclists and motorists are encouraged to use nearby alternate routes during this period on Kirby Avenue and First Street. In addition to pavement resurfacing and storm sewer upgrades, this project will include a new sidewalk and lighting along the north side of St. Mary’s Road, as well as a new pedestrian crossing on Neil Street. The project is a cooperative effort between the City of Champaign and the university.

B. MATHEWS AVENUE
Mathews Avenue between Green Street and Oregon Street will be adjusted for steam tunnel repairs until mid-August. The Noyes Laboratory circle drive on Mathews Avenue will become the temporary southbound route during this period. For detailed project and traffic control maps, including sidewalk and bike pathway reroutes, see the approved closure form. Once the work begins, large trucks should use alternate routes. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists are also encouraged to avoid the area because of possible delays from ongoing construction activities and deliveries to Noyes Laboratory and the Medical Sciences Building. To the greatest extent practical, deliveries will be coordinated during off-peak usage periods.  

C. SPRINGFIELD AVENUE
Springfield Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Wright Street and Mathews Avenue for steam tunnel repair work. The closure is expected to run until mid-August.
No through traffic will be permitted on this section of Springfield Avenue while construction is in progress, but detour routes will be clearly marked. The detour route for eastbound traffic will be Wright Street to Green Street to Mathews Avenue. For westbound traffic, the route will be Mathews Avenue to University Avenue to Wright Street.

D. WINDSOR ROAD BETWEEN NEIL STREET AND FIRST STREET  
E. FIRST STREET BETWEEN WINDSOR ROAD AND ST. MARY’S ROAD
Concrete street repairs will begin on Windsor Road (between First Street and Neil Street) & First Street (between Windsor Road and St. Mary’s Road). This work will begin Friday, July 16 through Friday, August 13. This work can occur daily (Monday through Saturday). The work will also consist of pavement and curb and gutter repairs.