Navigating the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: A Comprehensive Guide
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), a public land-grant research university, stands as the flagship institution of the University of Illinois System. Established in 1867, UIUC is located in the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area and has grown into a sprawling campus with a rich history, diverse academic offerings, and a vibrant student life. This guide provides a detailed overview of the campus layout, key landmarks, academic divisions, and resources to help you navigate and explore the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
A Historical Overview
Originally named "Illinois Industrial University," the institution owes its existence to the first Morrill Land-Grant Act, which facilitated the creation of agricultural and industrial colleges across the United States. The university officially changed its name to the "University of Illinois" in 1885, reflecting its expanding curriculum encompassing agriculture, mechanical arts, and liberal arts.
Early Growth and Development
The university's library, established in 1868, began with 1,039 volumes. President Edmund J. James, during his tenure from 1904 to 1920, spearheaded the development of a massive research library. He also fostered ties with China, laying the groundwork for a significant Chinese international student population.
Landmark Moments
Alma Mater, a statue created by alumnus Lorado Taft, was unveiled on June 11, 1929, becoming a prominent campus landmark. The Great Depression slowed campus expansion, leading to the replacement of the original University Hall with Gregory Hall and the Illini Union. Post-World War II, the university experienced rapid growth, with enrollment doubling and academic standing improving.
Evolution of the Campus Name
By 1967, the University of Illinois system included the main campus in Champaign-Urbana and two Chicago campuses. In 1977, the university name officially changed to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Read also: Champaign Hotels
Campus Layout and Key Areas
The main research and academic facilities are divided between Urbana and Champaign. The campus is characterized by its landscape, architecture, and distinctive landmarks.
The Quads
Four main quads form the heart of the university, arranged from north to south:
Beckman Quadrangle: Located in the center of the Engineering Campus, it primarily houses research units and laboratories. Named after Arnold Orville Beckman, it features a solar calendar consisting of an obelisk and copper fountains.
John Bardeen Quadrangle: Also in the Engineering Campus, Boneyard Creek flows through it, parallel to Green Street.
Main Quadrangle: Situated south of the John Bardeen Quad.
Read also: University of Georgia Sorority Guide
South Quadrangle: Located south of the Main Quad.
Other Key Areas
Research Fields of the College of ACES: Extending south from Urbana and Champaign into Savoy and Champaign County.
Research Park: Located in the southwest part of campus, it opened in 2001 and has grown to include 13 buildings. Ninety companies have established roots here, employing over 1,400 people, along with approximately 400 student interns.
Navigating Campus Buildings
All campus buildings are assigned a 4-digit number by Facilities Information Resources.
List of Buildings
- 1105 W Main Apartments (1489)
- 21907 South Fourth Street
- 3508 South Sixth St (0243)
- 4625 South Wright Street (0247)
- Abbott Power Plant (0120)
- ACES Funk Library (0377)
- Acid Rain Field Laboratory (1003)
- Activities and Recreation Center (0118)
- Administrative Information Technology Services Building (AITS) (0281)
- Admissions and Records Building (0378)
- Advanced Computation Building (0017)
- Aerodynamics Research Laboratory (ARL) (1093)
- African American Studies (0157)
- Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) Farm Research and Training Center (FRTC)
- Agricultural Bioprocess Laboratory (0073)
- Agricultural/FF&E Warehouse Storage A (1017)
- Agriculture Engineering Research (0970)
- Agriculture Engineering Sciences Building (0008)
- Agriculture Services Building (0326)
- Agriculture Services Warehouse (0329)
- Agronomy Seed House (0842)
- Agronomy South Farms Laboratory (0824)
- Agronomy Soybean Research Farm (0991)
- Alice Campbell Alumni Center (0094)
- Allen Hall (0142)
- Altgeld Hall (0026)
- American Indian Studies (1204 West Nevada Street) (0151)
- Animal Research Barn - Physical Research Laboratory (0888)
- Animal Science Farm Equipment Storage Unit (0833)
- Animal Science K40 Facility (0831)
- Animal Science Shop and Storage - Horse Farm (0828)
- Animal Sciences Laboratory (0165)
- Anthropology Storage (Illinois State Archaeological Survey Repository) (0330)
- Architecture Annex (0018)
- Architecture Building (0050)
- Archives and Special Collections (Formerly Undergraduate Library UGL) (0099)
- Archives Research Center
- Armory (0006)
- Art and Design Building (0219)
- Ashton Woods Apartments (AW) (1217)
- Asian American Cultural Center (AACC / 1208 West Nevada Street) (0184)
- Asian American House (1145)
- Astronomy Building (0300)
- Atkins Building (1075)
- Atkins Golf Club
- Atkins Tennis Center (0360)
- Atmospheric Sciences Building (0208)
- Babcock Hall (0103)
- Bardeen Quad
- Barton Hall (0088)
- Basketball Courts
- Beach Volleyball Court
- Beckman Institute (0228)
- Bee Research Facility (1165)
- Bevier Hall (0158)
- Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building (0379)
- Biological Control Laboratory (0307)
- Blaisdell Hall (0101)
- Bousfield Hall (1252)
- Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center (BNAACC) (1528)
- Building Research Council Laboratory (0314)
- Burrill Hall (0138)
- Busey Hall (0111)
- Business Instructional Facility (1206)
- Campbell Hall (0376)
- Campus Bike Center (0380)
- Campus Instructional Facility (1545)
- Campus Recreation Center East (0364)
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (1080)
- Carle Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Facility (1523)
- Carr Hall (0104)
- Central Receiving Building (0170)
- Ceramics Building (0055)
- Ceramics Kiln House (0011)
- Charles G. Miller Auditorium (Room B102)
- Chemical and Life Science Laboratory (0070)
- Chemistry Annex (0010)
- Chesterbrook Academy
- Chez Veterans Center (1494)
- Child Development Laboratory (0062)
- Christopher Hall (1133)
- Clark Hall (0087)
- Clinical Skills Learning Center (0287)
- Coble Hall (0130)
- College of Veterinary Medicine Equine Lameness Area (1581)
- Computing Applications Building (0108)
- Coordinated Science Lab (0148)
- Crop Sciences Research and Education Center (1463)
- Daily Illini
- Dairy Farm Historic District Experimental Round Barns (0856)
- Dalkey Archive Press (Printing Services South Building / PSSB) (0144)
- Dance Administration Building (0365)
- Dance Studio (0268)
- Daniels Hall (0181)
- Davenport Hall (0001)
- David Kinley Hall (0054)
- Demirjian Golf Practice Facility (1187)
- Demirjian Park Stadium (1548)
- Department of Gender and Women's Studies (GWS, 1205 West Nevada Street) (0146)
- Department of Latina/Latino Studies (1207 West Oregon Street) (0238)
- Digital Computer Laboratory (0210)
- Dr. John A. Coyne South Clinic (0140)
- Early Child Development Lab (1071)
- Education Building (0160)
- Eichelberger Field (0560)
- Eichelberger Field Locker Rooms
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Building (0409)
- Electrical Engineering Storage Building (1020)
- Emergency Management Department (1108 West Stoughton Street) (1114)
- Energy Farm (4110 S.
- Engineering Hall (0015)
- Engineering Sciences Building (0039)
- English Building (0059)
- Environmental Sustainability Research Facility (1543)
- Everitt Laboratory (0030)
- FAR Dining Hall (0381)
- FAR/PAR Food Storage (0382)
- Fire Service Institute (0318)
- Foellinger Auditorium (0043)
- Forbes Hall (0143)
- Freer Hall (0036)
- Foreign Languages Building (0145)
- Foundation Center (0271)
- Fourth Street Parking Structure (0383)
- Fraunhofer USA, Inc. (1097)
- Garage Door Shop (0384)
- General Chemistry Building (0028)
- Geological Survey Laboratory (0315)
- Grainger Engineering Library Information Center (0361)
- Grainger Foundry Laboratory (0037)
- Gregory Hall (0048)
- Griffith Drive Storage (0385)
- Huff Hall (0041)
- Hydrosystems Laboratory (0042)
- Ice Arena (0359)
- Illini Hall (0035)
- Illini Union (0068)
- Illini Union Bookstore (0069)
- Illinois Field (0386)
- Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Training Grounds (0318)
- Illinois Natural History Survey (172 Natural Resources Building) (0167)
- Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities (IPRH) (0387)
- Illinois Simulator Laboratory (0288)
- Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) (1080)
- Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) (1462)
- International and Area Studies Library (0388)
- International Studies Building (0195)
- Irwin Hall (0100)
- Japan House (0298)
- Jerry T. and Sharon L. Garver Reading Room (0389)
- John Deere Pavilion (0390)
- Kenney Gym (0023)
- Krannert Art Museum (0067)
- Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (0198)
- Labor and Industrial Relations Building (0083)
- Lacrosse Fields
- Levis Faculty Center (0391)
- Library and Information Science Building (0331)
- Lincoln Avenue Residence Hall (LAR) (0110)
- Loomis Laboratory of Physics (0044)
- Louise Freer Hall (0036)
- Madigan Laboratory (0045)
- Main Library (0046)
- Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) (0066)
- McKinley Health Center (0047)
- Memorial Stadium (0061)
- Metal Fusing Laboratory (0392)
- Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (0363)
- Military Education Building (0052)
- Morrill Hall (0049)
- Morrow Plots (0393)
- Mumford Hall (0051)
- Mumford House (0394)
- Music Building (0053)
- National Soybean Research Laboratory (NSRL) (0395)
- Natural History Building (0167)
- Natural Resources Studies Annex (0396)
- Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory (0012)
- Noble Hall (0105)
- North Campus Chiller Plant (0397)
- Nuclear Physics Laboratory (0024)
- Noyes Laboratory (0057)
- Observatory (0005)
- Old Agriculture Engineering Shop (0398)
- Optical and Discharge Physics Laboratory (0399)
- Orchard Downs (0400)
- Oregon Street Residence Halls (0401)
- PAR Dining Hall (0402)
- Parking Structure (0403)
- Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Hall (PAR) (0109)
- Personnel Services Office (0404)
- Plant Clinic (0405)
- Plant Sciences Laboratory (0168)
- Police Training Institute (0406)
- Pomology Research Center (0407)
- Pottery Studio (0408)
- Prairie Research Institute (0468)
- Printing Services Building (0144)
- Psychology Building (0058)
- Public Safety Building (0357)
- Roger Adams Laboratory (0116)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- Richmond Studio (0551)
- RIPE High-Throughput Phenotyping Facility (HTPF) (1584)
- Robert A. Evers Laboratory (1268)
- Roger Adams Laboratory (0116)
- Saunders Hall (0102)
- School of Information Sciences - 614 E Daniel St (4th/5th Floors) (2562)
- School of Information Sciences Building (501 E Daniel St) (0331)
- School of Labor & Employment Relations (0218)
- Scott Hall (0079)
- Sculpture - Alma Mater
- Seitz Materials Research Laboratory (0066)
- Shelford Vivarium (0056)
- Shelford Vivarium Greenhouse (1232)
- Sherman Hall (0291)
- Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building (0112)
- Siebel Center for Computer Science (0563)
- Siebel Center for Design (1517)
- Sinclaire's Coffee
- Smith Memorial Hall (0060)
- Snyder Hall (0078)
- South Studio Five - Graduate Photography (0370)
- South Studio Four - Ceramics Facility (0366)
- South Studio One - Art Studio (0328)
- South Studio Seven - General Arts Building (0371)
- South Studio Six - Graduate Painting Facility (0375)
- South Studio Three - Glass Sculpture Building (0338)
- South Studio Two - Sculpture Building (0327)
- Speech and Hearing Clinic (0209)
- Speech Language Pathology Clinic (1213)
- Spice Box
- Spurlock Museum (0373)
- Stadium Terrace Play Field
- Starbucks
- State Farm Center (0166)
- State Regional Office Building (0282)
- Steven S Wymer Hall (1582)
- Stock Pavilion (0040)
- Stoughton Goodwin Apartments (1110 Stoughton St) (1503)
- Structural Warehouse (0164)
- Student Dining and Residential Program Building (SDRP) (1247)
- Student Life and Culture Archives (SLC)
- Student Services Arcade Building (0071)
- Superconductivity Center (0095)
- Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center (1603)
- Swanlund Admin Building (0193)
- Swine Research Center (1030)
- Taft Hall (0092)
- Taft House (0161)
- Talbot Laboratory (0013)
- Tech Services Nevada Building Computer Lab (1203 1/2 W Nevada S) (0207)
- Technology Development & Fabrication Center 3 (TDFC3) (1483)
- Technology Development and Fabrication Center (TDFC1) (1211)
- Technology Development and Fabrication Center 4 (TDFC4) (1531)
- Temple Hoyne Buell Hall (0339)
- Tennis Courts
- TerraByte
- Testing Center (0507)
- The Caffeinator
- The Forum at Carle (0565)
- The Honors House / Campus Honors Program (1205 West Oregon Street)
- The Summit (507 E. Green Street) (1262)
- Timothy J.
Academic Units and Programs
The university contains 16 schools and colleges and provides more than 150 undergraduate and over 100 graduate programs of study. The university offers online specializations such as Digital Marketing and an online MBA program. In 2015, the university announced an expansion to include an engineering-based medical program.
Read also: History of the Block 'M'
Honors Program
The university offers undergraduate students the opportunity for graduation honors, with University Honors awarded to the highest achieving students. To earn this distinction, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.0 and rank within the top 3% of their graduating class.
Online Learning
In partnership with Coursera, the university provides a series of master's degrees, certifications, and specialization courses, including more than 70 joint learning classes. The online master's degrees offered through Coursera have admission requirements similar to the on-campus policies.
Research and Innovation
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a hub for research and innovation, supported by extensive infrastructure and numerous research centers and institutes.
Key Research Centers and Institutes
National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA): Created Mosaic, the first graphical web browser, the Apache HTTP server, and NCSA Telnet.
Prairie Research Institute: Comprises the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, and Illinois State Archaeological Survey.
Technology Entrepreneur Center: Offers resources for students to develop entrepreneurial ideas, including classes, competitions, and workshops.
Center for Plasma-Material Interactions: Researches the behavior between plasmas and the surfaces of materials.
Institute for Condensed Matter Theory (ICMT): Focuses on research in condensed matter theory.
Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology: Dedicated to genomic biology research.
Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE): Leads an interdisciplinary approach to researching solutions for sustainability, energy, and environmental needs.
Notable Achievements
BCS Theory: A theory of superconductivity proposed by John Bardeen, Leon Cooper, and John Robert Schrieffer.
NAMD: A molecular dynamics simulation code pioneered by Klaus Schulten and his team at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology.
PLATO System: The first generalized computer-assisted instruction system, developed at the University of Illinois.
Touchscreens and Plasma Displays: Developed by Donald Bitzer in the 1960s.
Sustainability Initiatives
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is committed to sustainability and carbon neutrality.
Climate Commitment
In 2008, the university became a signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, aiming for carbon neutrality as soon as possible.
Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP)
The iCAP is a strategic framework for meeting the university's Climate Leadership Commitments to be carbon-neutral by 2050 or sooner and build resilience within the local community.
Student Life and Organizations
The university hosts over 1,000 active registered student organizations, showcased during the annual "Quad Day."
Student Government
The university has a history of student governments, including the Student Senate and the Undergraduate Student Association (UGSA).
Media and Publications
The Daily Illini, a student-run newspaper, has been published since 1871. The Varsity Men's Glee Club, founded in 1886, is one of the oldest glee clubs in the United States.
Greek Life
There are 59 fraternities and 38 sororities on campus, with a significant portion of undergraduates participating in Greek life.
Transportation and Parking
Getting to Krannert Center
Krannert Center is located at 500 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, near the eastern edge of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus.
From I-74: Take the Lincoln Avenue exit and head south. Turn right on Illinois Street or Oregon Street.
From I-57: Exit at I-74 heading east or exit at Curtis Road and head east to Neil Street, then north to Windsor Road, and left on Lincoln Avenue. Turn left on Oregon Street or Illinois Street.
Parking at Krannert Center
Parking is free in Krannert Center’s underground garages after 5pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. Overflow parking is available in University lots D1 north of Illinois Street and D9 at the corner of Illinois Street and Lincoln Avenue.
Public Transportation
Champaign-Urbana’s Mass Transit District (MTD) has several routes that stop near the university.
Additional Resources
Facility Access Maps: Provide information on accessible entries, elevators, and restrooms.
University of Illinois Campus Map: Shows the campus layout and building locations.
tags: #university #of #illinois #champaign #map
