UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
N A V I G A T I O N D I G I T A L L I B R A R Y
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Nevins) [PAGE 237]

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NEW BUILDINGS

219

until between 1910-11 and 1911-12 there was a sudden leap from thirty-six to forty-four. In the early years of the administration, the slowness with which the list of structures was increased was a cause of much vexation. Of large buildings, only the Auditorium was obtained in 1905, and the sum set aside for it was reduced in legislative committee from $150,000 to $100,000. I t seemed impossible to obtain for this a substantial building to seat 2,500 people, and several of the Trustees were in favor of holding the appropriation and asking the next Legislature for an addition to it—asserting that the building should house more than 2,500, anyway. But a commission consisting of several Trustees, the President, several of the architectural faculty, and two alumni, Lorado Taft and Clarence H. Blackall, reported in favor of proceeding, and the plans of Mr. Blackall were later accepted. Something monumental was desired: built of brick and stone, the structure proved so staunch and yet beautiful that it has fully answered its purpose. Unfortunately, it no sooner came into use in 1908 than it was discovered that it had an echo like the baptistery of Pisa, and to correct this the physics faculty spent years of intermittent effort. Meanwhile, in 1907 the University had received $250,000 for the Physics* Building, and $150,000 for an addition to the Natural History Building. The choice of plans for these latter buildings, and all to follow, involved some difficulties, for in 1907 a law became effective requiring all structures built by State money to be upon designs by the State architect. The University had little relish for an arrangement by which its buildings were made the product of an officer of problematical ability at Springfield. It suspected, with reason, that the State architect might insist upon utility