Building History

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign’s Observatory building is one of the first five buildings constructed as part of the land grant university plan in 1897. It still functions as an observatory and extensive noteworthy discoveries occurred by the department’s scientists using the telescope.

Preservation and Building Pathology Challenges

The building now is only partially used by the Astronomy department. Other users utilize the space for offices. The Astronomy department is partially in the building and also across campus, physically disconnected from its historic core. Brush Architects’ surveyed the building for it’s existing conditions, hazardous materials, historic preservation priorities, and code compliance issues. We also interviewed all users of the building and related departments for their current and long term needs. We found distinct commonality for each user in that they all wanted a conference space for 150 people. We realized that all could share the one space since the astronomy user group intended night hours for their events and the office users preferred standard work
hours. The competing interests immediately became complimentary interests

Design Solution

Brush Architects proposed three solutions: I. modify the building to current codes including accessibility requirements and maintaining all users within the building. II. claim the whole building for astronomy and modify the current offices to include library and classroom spaces including a museum allowing use of the historic telescope equipment. III. all of option 2 with a substantial addition for class, library, and research facilities.