The future of UIC's campus

[Big D]

Here's is the report from the 2nd phase in improving UIC's campus for the next 2 or 3 decades...thought it was interesting...

www.uic.edu/master_plan/Documents/Phase2/Phase_2_Report.pdf

Some highlights:

1) It appears that Lecture Centers B & E are definitely history in order to make a green quad in the center of East campus.

2) Some plans involve demolishing both BSB and UH. One plan involves constructing a new iconic building. I love UH, but it's in bad shape....we can't keep that ugly scaffolding around indefinitely.

3) More student housing and much less parking. Some of those lots are going bye-bye, including the one across from the Pavilion.

With our financial situation, I'm curious how much of this construction will be done in the next couple decades, considering they were supposed to redo the UH plaza back when I was there a decade ago and it looks like absolute trash to this day.

[UICJohn]

Just going by the highlights listed:

1) A green quad in the middle of campus would be nice. All colleges just have that grassy area that everybody congregates, studies, and things like that. The quad right now serves that purpose but it's all cement and uncomfortable benches.

2) I thought I read that they have done a pretty decent amount of work in BSB improving classrooms and the building overall. Haven't been on campus in a while so not sure if that's true. UH, however, needs to go. It's a recognizable building (my uncle actually pointed it out when we were driving on the highway a few weeks ago) but it's just falling apart. A new building, iconic, recognizable by people going by, would be quite a good idea. Another thing is that UH is where some professors have their offices. A new building with nicer amenities would definitely be a good incentive to want to work at UIC.

3) The fairly obvious question I have is where would everyone park if the lots were all gone? I guess more lots like the one next to the Pavillion could be made that are several floors? But yeah, if more dorms and lecture halls are to be built, they would have to be done on the land that is already there and those parking lots are quite large, especially the one by BSB and the one on Taylor Street.

[goflames31]

Anything that increases the residential presence of the university in the neighborhood and gets rid of surface parking lots is a win in my book.

UIC John- parking will most likely be integrated into whatever structures replace the existing lots. A few parking structures strategically placed throughout wouldn't hurt either. Also factor in that more people will live in the area which will most likely reduce the amount of space required for commuter parking.

I like the ideas on paper, the implementation over the next decade(s) will be important. The university seems to have the right idea. Hopefully the A&A building gets something (anything) done to it.

[Big D]

Surface lots just don't seem to make sense when we need room to expand. In the report, or maybe it was another report, they did a study that showed that UIC offered way more parking than was demanded. Hence, they plan on reducing up to 1/3 of the current parking on campus. In doing so, they'll be removing some of those surface lots, and probably will be expanding one or more garages. It looked like in one of the plans, the Pavilion garage was to be expanded.

As for UH and BSB, I think they're signature buildings of the campus. If UH were in good shape, I'd say keep it. But it's not. If we can't fix it, and keep it fixed for a long time, then I think we have to take it down. BSB is just inefficient and confusing, and I'm indifferent as to what happens to it.

I'll be interested to see the phase 3 report when it comes out...I think I read that the Board of Trustees will vote on the final plan in May...so we'll know more then.

[VivatUIC]

I like the sound of these plans but with the state and university budget crisis where is the money for these renovations coming from?