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A new and improved Uni? Study to look at building's shortcomings, propose changes
Gargoyle drawing by Meredith Nelson; coloring by Joy Shapley (click to enlarge)Don't expect these kind of changes to come out of the facility usage study that began last week, but some improvements are needed.
Published: Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 6:49pm
URBANA — A new and improved Uni High building could be coming. By the end of this school year, the administration will have a good idea whether this is an achievable goal.
Just recently, the University of Illinois hired a Chicago-area architect firm called Wight & Company to do a study to identify the school's facility shortcomings and find ways to improve them.
According to Director Steve Epperson, Uni has a general lack of classroom space, and the school needs to improve the functionality of its classrooms, the technology of its classrooms, and the energy efficiency and usage of the building.
Currently, Uni is one classroom short during fifth period, and there are space problems in the Latin and Japanese rooms.
In addition, the way Uni manages its air conditioning is very inefficient, Epperson said, and its single-pane windows badly conserve energy and have been around for decades. These are just a few of the problems that affect Uni's student learning environment, in Epperson's view.
"There are improvements that need to be made," he said. "[But] before the University really digs into any major renovations, they usually do some type of facility study to see what the needs are and try to get a rough idea about what the costs will be."
According to Epperson, the facility study will consist of two parts. In the first part, Wight & Company will look at Uni's current facility and space needs. After identifying the problems, the firm will then project the renovation costs.
Finding the problems
The facility usage study kicked off on Dec. 2 when a representative from Wight & Company did a workshop to inform the department heads of their procedures. On the following day, engineers came to visit Uni to examine the current systems and facilities.
Once the firm gets a general feel of Uni's needs, the next step will be to gather input from faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni. According to Epperson, this is planned to occur after winter break, when architects will meet with teachers in their respective departments on Jan. 5.
On online survey for parents and alumni to provide input will be available shortly afterward, probably Jan. 6 or 7.
If things go as planned, Wight & Company representatives will return on either Jan. 22 or 23 to present their ideas. At that time, Uni students will have the opportunity to share their own opinions and offer their input.
"I want students to be a part of the process," said Epperson. "Ms. Evans [art teacher Lisa Evans] has kindly offered to let us set this up in the art room, and it's going to be a kind of an open house thing, where during your free period you can look around and give input."
After Wight & Company determines Uni's total space needs, the firm will project the costs for either renovating and expanding the current building or constructing a new one.
However, before renovation or construction can occur, Uni must obtain financial support. A fundraising plan will have to await the architects' recommendations.
"You don't have sketches, you don't have the plan," Epperson said. "That's part of this, too — that we hope that in working through this we will have a plan that will make sense for Uni for the long term. Ms. Cooley [Karen Cooley], our advancement person who does all the fundraising, will start sharing [the architects' recommendations] with people and seeing if she can move this forward."
A little help from a student
With the facility usage study now up and running, the role of senior Isaac Chambers in helping to set the groundwork shouldn't be forgotten.
As a sophomore in May 2007, encouraged by then-Director Kathleen Patton, Chambers invited nearly a thousand students, staff, alumni, and parents to participate in a Web-based survey about what they would like to see in a new building; 400 or so completed that survey.
"I think from this survey it's pretty clear that people want to keep Uni's location and main facility," Chambers told the Gargoyle's Jason He in June 2007. "About 60 percent indicated they would oppose building entirely new facilities. On the other hand, 91 percent indicated they had no opinion or would support the building of new buildings in place of the Math House, Hue House, and Uni Gym."
Chambers went on to add: "Although there are distinct benefits to having entirely new locations, such as larger facilities, room to expand if needed, soccer fields and an outdoor track, etc., I think the benefits of Uni's central location and the history and culture of the main Uni building outweigh the benefits of entirely new facilities. Although we are definitely keeping all options open at this point in the project, I think we're going to start with designs of new facilities on the same block to supplement the current main Uni building."
In the spring of his junior year, Chambers submitted a proposal for a facility usage study to the University. According to Epperson, the proposal was informative and helpful to the Provost's Office, which approved a budget of $72,000 for the study. Despite doing the preliminary work, Chambers is no longer playing a role in the project.
"In August I helped interview the four architect candidate firms, and basically listened to their presentations," said Chambers. "At this point I don't really have much of a role in what's going on. That's essentially between Wight and Dr. Epperson."
Once the Wight & Company study is finished, the University will review it and decide whether to carry out the recommendations. Epperson is hoping that the changes expand on but retain Uni's current building.
"I think a lot of people like this old building and like the location here on campus, and all of that," he said. "I hope this can be a learning process for us, and we are able to improve the environment at Uni."
Comments
Save UNI
Perhaps someday the history of University High as an institution will be more fully realized and appreciated by all. Harvard and other significant educational institutions have historic dorms and classrooms where reverence is given to the great minds and characters that came before us. I realize that UNI is not a legacy school,and that is a strength, but I always felt fortunate to be in the presence of greatness within its halls. Perhaps it is energy inefficient, but architecturally appropriate windows are also part of its charm. Air conditioning has only been considered a "requirement" in recent years. When I attended UNI the only room air conditioned was a computer lab. I honestly think it is a travesty that people have become so self absorbed in recent years.
Perhaps it would be useful to consider moving administration teaching offices, and even the library to other buildings. With the number of college students who once and probably still come to the UNI library to check out science fiction and fiction novels a security issue might be removed as well.
Keep the main building the way it is, it is a treasure. I can't even think of another Gothic structure on the U of I campus, but you can guess that the University will declare the need for a new school when they need land for expansion at some point. Uni high is one of the most significant educational treasures in the Midwest. Even recent classes have turned out some of the most interesting and creative minds in America. Do cushy buildings inspire creativity or do challenging surroundings that build character and challenge our expanding need for materialism, comfort, and amenities? I would say the latter. Reschedule a class if it is a problem. Most older people recognize such arguments as mere rationalizations. In this case not those of a teenager on why they need a new car, but of school Administrations wanting fancy new toys to show off to their friends. Uni high had ONE working pencil sharpener in my era and it was in a teachers office. It had TWO computers for students to use. The textbooks were old. The only music was a jukebox in the lounge. Some of the students looked as if they shopped at Kresge's. They went off to achieve a lot in this world. The point is that UNI doesn't need any of these improvements. Administrations want them, why, so UNI can be more like a fancy public school in a nice neighborhood. Resist it and save your minds for something better. Stick in a copy of Charlie Brown Christmas and watch it till you get the point. The crummy tree is the better tree because it is the one that teaches and supports your story. You were chosen to go to Uni because your minds and talents are special and unique. You are not wealthier or luckier, but you are gifted in ways that can change the world if you do not seek merely your own gain. New classrooms can never do that.
First, as a student at Uni,
First, as a student at Uni, I can attest that the students and teachers at Uni deeply appreciate the distinctive character of Uni and it's building. As you said, Uni is one of the premier high school education institutions of the nation. As you've also noted, Uni's current students and faculty carry on that tradition of excellence every day. The accomplishments of Uni students and faculty in spite of very series challenges are a testament to their extraordinary character.
But it's important to understand that moving forward with plans to improve Uni's facilities will not impede Uni's tradition of excellence or degrade Uni's character. Also, these plans are not the mission of the nebulously blamable "Administration." It is the mission of the students who call Uni home; the mission of the hardworking faculty and staff; the mission of the stakeholders in Uni. It's important to remember and persevere Uni's historic past, but we must not live in the past.
In 1944, the College of Education noted in a 17-page report:
Many of these problems are still true today, 64 years later. The current facilities do not meet Uni's needs. When approving the funds for the study, the University directed that the study also consider the possibility of a greenfield location. It is my hope, and I believe the hope of most that are a part of the Uni community, that new Uni facilities will come in the form of renovations and additions to the current Uni building.
UNi was originally supposed
UNi was originally supposed to be built with a middle section with offices,possibly performance facilities, library and gym facilities and another wing like the current one in an H shape from above. Obviously this never happened. Perhaps something like the middle section needs to be built. This all comes from my recollection of the Uni High History that was once easily attainable around there somewhere.
I think if changes can be made that solidify the current building and location as a permanent home. Then those are good changes. I certainly hope the building has an adequate sprinkler system and fire hose system. I cannot remember if it does or if that has been installed. I think that the other problem that you are going to face is raising funds. Especially in the current economic environment. It would be exceedingly difficult to raise funds from alumni to tear down their building. It may be possible and even advantageous to raise funds in an effort to preserve it. Rumor has it, that the University has wanted to move the high school off campus to better utilize the land for a long time.
I hope you realize as a student at UNI that you are fortunate to attend. Uni High was going to be closed in the early 80's by the University. Parents, students and Alumni saved it. I wish you luck in doing the same for the next generation.
I want to add that teachers
I want to add that teachers and administrators of that era, who willingly worked for inadequate pay, had perhaps the largest hand in saving it as well. I would be remiss in not adding that, so I will.
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