CLMP: Main Quad District

Current Challenges Participants shared a desire for better Main Quad gathering spaces and made observations that some of the walkways and corridors leading into the main Quad are underutilized. Students expressed need for access to power outlets and Wi-Fi hubs to support their work. Additionally, planting new trees, filling hedge gaps, and adding ground cover can restore historic design, improve rainwater absorption, and enhance views … Continue reading CLMP: Main Quad District

CLMP: Industrial + Athletics District

Current Challenges Comprised of indoor and outdoor recreationalfacilities and set within large auto-oriented blocks,this district is largely vehicular oriented, characterized by large parking lots and open spaces with a lack of visual consistency and cohesive branding. Key entry points, like Neil Street and W. Kirby Avenue, are vital for campus events given the location of the State Farm Center, Memorial Stadium and the many athletics … Continue reading CLMP: Industrial + Athletics District

CLMP: South Quad District

Current Challenges The South Quad District is a pedestrian-oriented area with open lawns and walkways framed by large canopy trees, historically tied to the university’s agricultural legacy. The Campus Master Plan envisions significant infill development, reducing surface parking and reinforcing the quad framework by adding a new quad south of the ACES Library. Efforts to simplify the plant palette with native species have been limited. … Continue reading CLMP: South Quad District

We’re Doing WELL

The Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building (MEB) completed a major transformation in 2022, including over 40,000 square feet added to instructional and research capabilities. It even got a new piece of public and interactive art. Leaders from the building and those in the mechanical science & engineering (MechSE) department, along with help from F&S, invested even more to reach WELL Certification. To accomplish WELL, the … Continue reading We’re Doing WELL

2025 Chief Engineers & Facility Managers Conference: What’s So Cool About Chilled Water

At the 2025 Chief Engineers & Facility Managers Conference, Mike Larson, director of utility operations at Abbott Power Plant, described part of why the Urbana campus is so remarkable in utility and energy production and distribution: chilled water. Cold water, taken down to 42 degrees Fahrenheit at five chillers in Champaign and Urbana, is pumped throughout the campus in 26 miles of underground pipes to … Continue reading 2025 Chief Engineers & Facility Managers Conference: What’s So Cool About Chilled Water

2025 Chief Engineers & Facility Managers Conference: Keynote Recap

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a world-leader in teaching, collaboration, research and workforce development – and a conference has helped position Illinois as a leader within the state and region for those who perform similar work to F&S. The Illinois Chief Engineers & Facility Mangers Conference was a two-day gathering held in March, meant to spur discussion and find solutions to common issues at … Continue reading 2025 Chief Engineers & Facility Managers Conference: Keynote Recap

Future Ready Parking with EV Charging at Lot E15

By Jalynn Bugaj, customer relations & communications intern With the construction of Steven S. Wymer Hall on the former site of parking Lot E12, nearly all parking spaces in that lot have been permanently removed as of May 8, 2023. To offset this change, a new parking structure was built at Lot E15, located at 404 E. Pennsylvania. Before construction, Lot E15 had 294 parking … Continue reading Future Ready Parking with EV Charging at Lot E15

F&S Looking for University Construction Vendors: “We Invite You to Join”

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is always looking for more Illinois-based companies to perform the work of designing, building and maintaining facilities and land on campus. A team of attention-detailed F&S Capital Programs experts help businesses cross different thresholds to allow them to bid for work to be done. They are the ones to shepherd the project along, and help contractors earn the opportunity to … Continue reading F&S Looking for University Construction Vendors: “We Invite You to Join”

$51M IBRL Grant Thanks to F&S

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is no novice at securing federal research grants. The campus regularly receives among the most federal money between all research universities from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), and other federal agencies. And nearly every dollar is for administrating the project or team to accelerate innovation and discovery — they are almost never for ‘capital’ projects … Continue reading $51M IBRL Grant Thanks to F&S

Hush Hybrid Pod Trial

By Jalynn BugajF&S customer relations & communications intern Shhhhh… Can you hear that? Exactly. Neither can anyone else—thanks to the Hush Hybrid pod! Say hello to the future of workplace privacy: Introducing the Hush Hybrid pod, a game-changing solution designed to transform how staff navigate virtual conversations and meetings in an open office. The Hush Hybrid pod is on a 60-day trial in Lincoln Hall, … Continue reading Hush Hybrid Pod Trial