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Navy Pier to Here | 2005 UIC City & Corporate Award Recipient Profiles

FEATURE STORY (continued) — January/February 2005

From Navy Pier ...

Looking Forward: New capital programs are preparing UIC for a bright future

By Dan Kening

As with any great university, UIC continues to look forward as it celebrates its past, with several ongoing major capital projects—most notably the South Campus expansion.

But the tone for future capital projects was largely set by the 1995 renovation of the East Campus core, an $8.7 million project that dramatically altered the campus' original appearance.

"There was a strong sentiment among students and faculty alike that the East Campus was a very foreboding, impersonal place with a lot of concrete and not a lot of green space," says Jim Foerster, associate vice chancellor for capital programs.

A number of complaints centered on the overhead walkways—a controversial vestige of architect Walter Netsch's original design. Over the years, the need for the walkways had diminished and their deterioration had become a source of concern.

In 1992, the university's trustees selected Daniel P. Coffey & Associates, a Chicago-based architectural firm, to survey the campus' condition and make recommendations for its renovation. The firm's proposals ranged from restoring the campus to its original design to creating a new look by removing the upper-level walkways and constructing a new campus core. Ultimately, trustees chose the latter route.

Key elements of the renovation included replacing Circle Forum with an oval-shaped plaza that features custom fixtures, teak benches and raised planters; upgrading the exteriors of the lecture centers with metal roofs and other details; and adding new ground walkways, landscaping and space for students to gather and socialize.

"The goal was to create an attractive campus environment, and I think we achieved that objective," says Foerster.

South Campus Expansion

The $525 million South Campus expansion represents the latest chapter in UIC's continuing growth and development. The 10-year project covers an 85-acre site bounded by Roosevelt Road to the north, 16th Street to the south, Union Street to the east and Morgan Street to the west, and includes academic buildings, market-rate residential housing units (known as "University Village"), parking areas and retail development. Already open are the Thomas Beckham and Marie Robinson student residence halls and several major retailers, such as Barbara's Bookstore and Foot Locker.

Stanton Delaney, '69 las, mba '84, PHD '87 las, executive director of the South Campus Development Project, says the project is midway through its completion. "For all practical purposes, the university had fixed dimensions from 1965 until the beginning of this project five years ago," says Delaney. "South was the only direction we could go for potential expansion."

Delaney says alumni returning for the 40th anniversary of the East Campus are in for a pleasant surprise.

"If you were a student here during the '60s and haven't been back since, the South Campus project is worth the trip alone," says Delaney. "The most common reaction I see from people is shock. They are just stunned by what they see."

Sports & Fitness Center

The East Campus will also be the home of the new 152,000-square-foot Student Recreation Facility. Located at Polk and Halsted Streets, the $35 million building will include a lap and leisure pool, multi-court gym, and weight and fitness rooms. The building will also offer views of the Chicago skyline and will open spring 2006.

"We're always focusing on improving the quality of life for students, and we want to help students focus on healthy lifestyles," says Michael Landek, med '94, UIC associate vice chancellor for student affairs.

Taken together, these projects demonstrate that UIC is as vibrant and dynamic as the city in which it resides.