There’s an exceptional amount of construction happening on Illinois State University’s campus according to David Gill, the director of Facilities, Planning, Design, and Construction.
“I think this is probably the highest dollar value and the most projects this university has ever had going at one time,” Gill said.
He shared an update on some of the University’s largest projects, which are in various stages of completion.
Under construction
Center for the Visual Arts Rotunda
The Center for the Visual Arts (CVA) Rotunda is undergoing a $9 million overhaul ahead of the upcoming spring semester. Financed by Academic Enhancement Funds (AEFs), the project involves renovating and modernizing the Rotunda’s four, tiered classrooms and the encircling hallway. A new heating and cooling system is also being installed.
Workers began gutting the 11,500-square-foot space at the end of the spring 2023 semester. This fall, the Rotunda’s tiered, concrete floor has been raised to accommodate four new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible ramps that lead from the top hallway to the bottom tier of each classroom. New lecture seating and modern finishes will be installed before the Rotunda reopens for spring 2024.
DeGarmo Plaza
The first of a two-phase, $6.6 million AEF-funded project to renovate DeGarmo Hall Plaza wrapped up at the beginning of the school year. Phase one involved reconstructing the plaza to the east of DeGarmo to alleviate drainage/leaking issues impacting classrooms beneath the plaza. Water damage to the underground space was also addressed. During summer 2024, the plaza directly underneath DeGarmo and the classroom space beneath it will be renovated during the second and final phase of the two-year project.
Mennonite College of Nursing Simulation Center
Work is underway on the 16,000-square-foot expansion of the Mennonite College of Nursing Simulation Center. The University broke ground on the $18 million project in June, which is scheduled to be completed by fall of 2024. The new building will connect to the existing simulation center and will create space for interdisciplinary collaboration, additional student support, and increased research capabilities. It will enable the Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) to increase enrollment by 400 students.
Planning
College of Engineering complex
The first phase of the architectural design process is nearing completion for renovation of the John Green Building and the Carter Harris Administration Building to house Illinois State’s new College of Engineering.
The John Green and Carter Harris buildings will be completely renovated to an approximately 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art College of Engineering complex planned to open for classes in fall 2026. However, the College of Engineering will accept the first group of students and begin classes in fall 2025 in existing Illinois State buildings.
Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Transformation Building Project
The $76 million Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Transformation Building Project is moving forward this fall with the review of architectural plans and the beginning of the bidding process for the Center for the Performing Arts, Centennial West, Centennial East, and the Center for the Visual Arts. The University is also supporting the partial renovation of Cook Hall to facilitate the completion of the overall project. Construction is expected to start in mid-2024 and be completed in about two years.
Through the State of Illinois Capital Development Board’s Art-In-Architecture Program, five Illinois artists have been selected to submit proposals to create permanent, original public art for installation in the interior and exterior of the project. The artists visited the campus this fall in preparation for their proposal and design development.
Additionally, through a separate, state-funded capital renewal project, restrooms and plumbing inside the Center for the Visual Arts and Centennial East have been upgraded.
College of Arts and Sciences laboratory building/greenhouse
An architect has been selected to create a schematic design of a new, four-story College of Arts and Sciences Laboratory building with a greenhouse on the roof. It will be built where the college’s existing greenhouses and two, large out-of-service chillers are located south of the Felmley Hall of Science Annex.
South Campus housing-dining project
Work is in the initial design and concept development stages to construct a new residential hall and dining center at the former site of the former Atkin-Colby and Hamilton-Whitten Residence Halls and Feeney Dining Center.
Newly opened
Athletics Indoor Practice Facility
Located north of Horton Field House, the new Athletics Indoor Practice Facility is an air-supported structure that features a 100-yard practice turf football field. The heated and insulated facility allows for year-round use by several Redbird Athletics teams. The year-and-a-half, $11.5 million project was completed in late summer, and the practice facility officially opened during a ribbon cutting ceremony in September.
Mennonite College of Nursing Springfield location
The Mennonite College of Nursing and Memorial Health have opened a new Springfield location for nursing education. The 10,000-square-foot facility located at 206 N. Grand Ave. in Springfield, underwent an approximately $7 million renovation primarily financed by Memorial Health.
A ribbon cutting ceremony took place in August for the facility, which features classroom, meeting, and lounge spaces for students enrolled in the program who began classes this fall.
