Berglund Construction and Williams Brothers Construction, Inc. have reached a major milestone in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s ambitious campus modernization plan, as Phase 3 of the Illini Hall Replacement and Altgeld Hall Renovation Project is now underway.

Construction officially broke ground in May on the new Illini Hall, a 140,000-sq. ft. academic facility that will anchor the university’s growing footprint in data science, mathematics, and statistics. Williams Brothers is serving as general contractor, while Berglund Construction is overseeing the effort as construction manager. The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) is managing the state-funded project in partnership with the university.

The new Illini Hall will feature modern lecture halls, research labs, classrooms, and collaborative spaces, including a second-floor data science center that will serve as part of the Illinois Innovation Network. Designed by Cannon Design to meet LEED Platinum standards, the highest designation for environmental sustainability, the building is expected to become a hub for interdisciplinary learning and research when it opens in 2027. Full article at Chicago Construction News.