URBANA, IL-Bids are now being received by the University of Illinois for the construction of a $95 million Electrical and Computer Engineering building at the north end of campus. Detroit-based SmithGroup designed the building, and the Illinois Capital Development Board will hold a bid opening on Oct. 14.

Professor Philip Krein, chairman of the building committee, tells GlobeSt.com that the new building will bring together departments that are now spread apart in different buildings. “Classrooms and research space are in short demand,” he says.

The 230,000-square-foot building will also include both vast open spaces and small intimate gathering points, as well as student study and collaboration spaces, and an auditorium. The university is also shooting for LEED Platinum status with a goal, through a vast array of photovoltaic cells and a chilled beam system to cool and heat the classroom tower, to have the building supply all of its own energy. If successful, the building would be more than tenfold the largest net-zero energy building in the United States.

Though the building has been discussed for decades, Krein says the current status of the economy hasn’t hurt the plans. “Bids are coming in on the low side, and the donor base has held up reasonably well,” he says. “There’s also political pressure to support job creation and construction jobs.”

The state is funding $47.5 million to the construction of the building. Private donations are sought for the rest of the goal, with about $20.2 million raised so far.

Instant Insights /

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