Welcome to Campus
F&S welcomes students, faculty, staff, and the larger community to campus. More students than ever—the current freshman class is the largest in U. of I. history—have more ways to recognize their time and place. One way to properly grow and foster common identity and communicate our values is rather simple: signage.
In 2023, F&S led the process of completely re-doing all exterior building signage. By summer 2025, Block I street banners, or vexilla, were installed throughout campustown, as well as other parts of Champaign and Urbana. These two projects alone hit the eyes of all who come to C-U.
F&S is a leader in the university’s Brand Ambassadorship, which aims to get every college, unit, and research unit aligned with the same branding and style in communications. Specifically, the F&S laborers are the very hands that adding signage, branding, logos, and other identifying marks and
information. F&S team members make up the Architectural Review Committee (ARC), which is the decision-making entity responsible for the physical manifestation of the look and feel of campus.
We welcome you to campus.
We are all Illini.
INSIDER Magazine PDF
https://fs.web.illinois.edu/Insider/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FS-Insider-2025_online.pdf
Welcome Corners
At a few major intersections in Champaign and Urbana, large brick monument signs identify perimeter corners of campus with a grand welcoming. Examples are at Green Street and Lincoln Avenue, in front of the Hallene Gateway, and at University Avenue and Wright Street. Installation was done in June by ironworkers Erik “Cable” Davis and Brett Balsamello.
The signs feature bright white letters and the updated Block I. At Hallene Gateway, two signs prominently display the words ‘Illinois’ and ‘1867’.
“It’s conforming to campus standards regarding the branding. It’s a much more visible, welcoming sign to the university that will be standing for generations to come. It’s something our ironworkers can be proud of having had a hand in,” said Todd Hawkins, superintendent of Building Services.
I in the Sky
Let your eyes wander up, and you’ll catch a Block I.
On more than 150 light poles, Block I vexilla signage brands the campus grounds for all students, faculty, staff, and community members. Veteran construction-laborer Joseph “Tater” Daly and others have done much of that work just in the last calendar year.
Branding is a Highway
There are many entryways to campus, including by road, rail, and
air. Upon arrival, C-U or campus visitors should be welcomed by the university properly. This now includes an update to the Curtis Street exit overpass on I-57.
F&S brickmasons took out approximately 20 total bricks, according to Calvin Berry, foreperson, to make room for the installation of the new Block I.