Building History

Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus was designed in 1923 by Holabird & Roche and is a similar massing to Soldier Field in Chicago. Memorial Stadium is constructed of concrete faced with brick and limestone, whereas Soldier Field is concrete, limestone, and concrete block.  The building is significant due to its architecture, its original architects, and for the 200 limestone columns that create 2 monumental colonnades with the names of students and alumni who fought and gave their lives during WWI and WWII.  The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Preservation and Building Pathology Challenges

The building is actively used throughout the year.  Areas of repair have been prioritized throughout the years and budgets assigned to accomplish the tasks.  Brush Architects, as the preservation retainer architect, inherited scope and budgets that were strictly defined, and required restriction due to updated restoration standards and budgetary expectations.

Design Solution

Brush Architects worked within annual budget and scheduling restrictions to create phased projects from 2013-18 to restore the brick masonry walls and stone cornices and colonnade throughout the building. All work conforms with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards and the regulations of the University of Illinois and landmark organizations.