A view from the southeast of an expanded Uni with a new theater space at the east end. Gargoyle photo by Isaac Chambers (click to enlarge)

Computer models of the same design. The new gym is located kitty corner across Goodwin Avenue to the northeast. The audience seemed to prefer this by a large margin. To see floor plans, go to the end of the article. Gargoyle photo by Isaac Chambers (click to enlarge)

URBANA — The goal of a bigger and better Uni moved one step closer at the Parent-Faculty Organization's Spring General Meeting in late April.

Some 100 Uni parents, faculty, and students gathered in a large lecture room at the Materials Science & Engineering Building to see updated drawings and learn about revised plans from architectural firm Wight & Company.

At the April 22 meeting, firm representative Andy Joseph presented three modified plans.

The audience was already familiar with two of them in broad outline thanks to Joseph's visit to Uni in late February for an open house with students and faculty.

Both plans that he presented back then called for structural changes within Uni's current building as well as additions that would replace Uni Gym and the Math and Hue Houses.

In one of them, a new gym would be located on a separate piece of University of Illinois property kitty corner across Goodwin Avenue, slightly to the northeast of Uni. In the other, the new gym would be attached to the main building.

The third plan that Joseph discussed at the April PFO meeting called for constructing an entirely new high school on U of I property at Florida and Race in Urbana.

Of the three plans proposed, Joseph spent most of his time discussing the option for expanding Uni without an attached gym. This option seemed to be the preferred one among audience members.

The plans were updated after Joseph and his colleague Rachel Simpson visited Uni on Feb. 26 to present their initial blueprints and get reaction from faculty and students.

The revised drawings presented at the April gathering conveyed Wight & Company's vision in more detail, although Joseph stressed that the plans are still primarily conceptual. Below are some of the revisions unveiled at the meeting:

• Use of windows on the attic roofs so that light can come in.
• Construction of vegetated roofs to provide for improved temperature regulation, reduction of storm water, and filtration of pollutants.
• Reconfiguration of the student commons, with the entire wall constructed out of glass.
• Enlargement of the new theater space by adding an upper deck, allowing for an additional 100 seats and a total of 500.
• Addition of science labs on the third floor.

According to Joseph, the three designs would require approximately 129,000 square feet of space and would be similar in costs, though he cautioned that all figures are estimates.

An expanded Uni with the gym located across Goodwin Avenue would cost $32.5 million, he said. An expanded Uni with an attached gym would cost $32 million.

The third plan, calling for an entirely new building at Florida and Race, would cost $33 million. The current Uni building and facilities around it would then either be kept or demolished so that the property could be used for other purposes.

No matter which option is chosen, the plan would have to be approved by the U of I, and Uni would have to raise the money for construction.

According to Joseph, the preferred plan — expanding Uni and building a detached gym — would take about three years to complete and would be done in phases. It would take approximately one year to build the new gym, and then two summer breaks to build the expanded facilities and renovations.

To see detailed plans of detached-gym alternative, go to the end of this article. For more information on previous plans, click here.

At the April meeting, students, parents, and faculty complimented Joseph on the use of green options and ample space, but some expressed concern about the costs, the loss of the parking lot, and the loss of the school's traditional elements.

"I really like the first one, the one where the gym is on the separate side," said Director Steve Epperson. "I feel that putting the gym on the same block with the current school, the addition just overwhelms the old building. I think the old building ought to be highlighted and not hidden, and I think the large building east of it just hides the original building."

Jeffrey Walkington, who will succeed Epperson as Uni's next director, was also present at the meeting and commented on the designs.

"I thought that tonight's presentation was very exciting and felt that some of the renderings were absolutely gorgeous," he said. "I kind of liked the blend of the very traditional architecture that Uni has morphing into the postmodern period."

Now that Joseph has gathered further input, all that needs to be done now is to wait for the U of I's response.

"I hope it's realistic to achieve," Epperson said. "I do kind of feel that it would probably have to be done in phases. I think this is a first good step, and I hope the University will approve the project so that we can go and raise some money for it."

Said Walkington: "I want to really hear more about what other people think. When it comes down to a question of practicality or what is ideal, I would rather see can we make the ideal happen first. Let's try to make Uni the best school in the nation, and let's have that be our goal, and then every now and then we will have to compromise on some issues, but that will be our guidepost."

A look at an expanded Uni without an attached gym

An overview of the preferred plan. The addition to the main building is located on the current property (bottom left corner of the above blueprint). A new but separate gym would be located to the northeast of Uni High on U of I property, kitty corner across Goodwin Avenue (upper right corner). Gargoyle photos by Isaac Chambers (click for larger and sharper photo).

The first floor of the renovated main building and addition (click for larger and sharper photo).

The second floor (click for larger and sharper photo).

The third floor (click for larger and sharper photo).

The fourth floor (click for larger and sharper photo).

The gym (click for larger and sharper photo).

Wight & Company's schedule for designing (not building) the new and improved Uni. Construction and renovation could take up to three years once the U of I approves the plans and Uni raises the money (click for larger and sharper photo).

A set of goals that define the new Uni (click for larger and sharper photo).

A view of the renovated main building and addition from the northeast (click for larger and sharper photo).