Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 13]

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IO

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[July is

for which quarters should be provided. This committee has also been considering the question of a site. A year ago this committee submitted a report in which it discussed twelve different possibilities. At that time the most favored sites were south of the Music Building either on the east or west sides of the extension of Goodwin Avenue, and east of the George Huff Gymnasium. Since then several incidents have occurred which have made it advisable to reconsider this question, viz.: 1. T h e removal of University Hall. 2. T h e postponement of any large expansion of classroom development in the south campus, such as the biological sciences development which was then under consideration. 3. T h e probable acquisition in the near future of the old Illinois Union Building, thus making that building available to house various University activities. 4. Approval has just been given by the Federal Government to the request of the University for a grant toward the construction of the new Union Building with the provision that construction must be started by January 1, 1939. In reviewing its previous studies and reconsidering the question of site, the Committee has been impressed by the following considerations: (a) T h e necessity of selecting a site which is immediately available so that final plans of the building can be prepared at once. (b) T h e importance of locating the building at a point that is accessible to as large a number of students as possible in order to insure continued interest in and use of the building. (c) T h e selection of a site which will make an attractive architectural setting and environment possible. After considering again all possible sites and carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each, the committee has arrived at the conclusion that a site in or near the main quadrangle immediately south of Green Street is most practicable and advantageous. This location has the following advantages: 1. It is immediately available. 2. It is easy of connection to service lines from the Power Plant. 3. It is near the present center of activity of students. 4. It will present a commanding view from all directions and will provide an attractive view in all directions. 5. It is readily accessible to strangers coming to the campus. 6. It is close to the Administration Building. 7. It is in an area in which no one style of architecture prevails, so that a style may be selected which is most suitable for this particular building, without the necessity of following the Georgian style adopted for the new portions of the campus. T h e disadvantages of this site are: ( a ) Lack of parking facilities in the immediate vicinity. (b) Some problem with respect to service entrance. (c) It will require the removal of a few of the old elms in this area. T h e number of first-class trees which would have to be sacrificed is relatively small. All things considered, the committee is convinced that the advantages materially outweigh the disadvantages and that the net advantages of this site are greater than those of any other available site. I concur in the judgment of the committee and recommend to the Board that the new Illini Union Building be located on the center axis of the central quadrangle, south of Green Street, between the Natural History Building and the Law Building, the north front to be approximately on a line with the north front of the Natural History Building, the exact location to be determined after