FEATURE STORY — Fall 2004

UIS Holds Dedication Ceremony for State-of-the-art Classroom Building

Second-floor student lobby

The University of Illinois at Springfield reached another milestone in its history on August 18 when alumni volunteers, university administrators, dignitaries, and members of the public gathered to dedicate a $31.3 million classroom and office building on the UIS campus.

"This is a day of triumph for UIS. This building is a triumph for UIS, and it is opening on time and on budget," UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen told a large gathering at the dedication.

"The opening of University Hall today is a prologue for many great learning experiences in these classrooms and offices," he said, noting that it had been 12 years since the last building was dedicated at UIS, that being the Health and Sciences Building, in January 1992.

It houses state-of-the-art technology-enhanced and smart classrooms, seminar rooms, lecture halls, and computer labs, where demonstrations were held during an open house following the dedication ceremony.

Chancellor Ringeisen expressed gratitude to several people who were present for their efforts in helping make the building a reality, including University of Illinois President James Stukel and his staff, former UIS Chancellor Naomi Lynn, former Mayor Karen Hasara, and former State Representative Gwenn Klingler.

Calling them great friends of UIS, the Chancellor also credited Senator Larry Bomke and Representatives Richard Brauer and Raymond Poe for "working on our behalf to make sure the state actually released the money for construction during tough budgetary times."

Also present to help cut the ribbon were Tom Lamont, acting executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, previously chair of the U of I Board of Trustees; Devon Bruce, a current U of I trustee; Tyson Roan, president of UIS' Student Government Association; and Andrew Hollingsead, UIS student representative on the U of I Board of Trustees. Governor Rod Blagojevich and Mayor Tim Davlin were both invited but were unable to attend.

The Office of Admissions, Records, and Financial Assistance is located on the first floor and has its own entrance toward the south end of the building. Many offices and programs of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences occupy the third floor, and the College of Business and Management is located on the fourth floor. The second floor has 16 classrooms, two lecture halls, four seminar rooms, five computer laboratories, and a student lobby.

The building houses 32 classrooms, 193 offices, five conference rooms, two lecture halls, four seminar rooms, five computer labs, eight psychology and computer science labs, and four student lounges.

The first classes ever to be held in the new building began August 19. They were a philosophy class, two Spanish classes, two accounting classes, and a Capital Scholars lecture.

The building will contribute further to the formation of a campus quadrangle and the development of more green space, where students can gather and have a more collegial environment in which to study and socialize. Design of the quad began this fall and is expected to be finished by next spring. The buildings that face the quad are University Hall, Brookens Library, the Public Affairs Center, and the Health and Sciences Building.

Photography by Lindsey Feger