The first known presence of the Illinois National Guard in Urbana was a cavalry which has transitioned over the years to accommodate infantry and deployment staging activities. Bailey Edward is providing architecture and historic preservation services for the renovation of the Urbana Readiness Center built in 1937, under the Federal Works Projects Administration program.
A design charrette was performed to verify program requirements, functionality of the facility and to accelerate the schedule. The scope of work includes a three-story interior addition; ADA and systems updates throughout; and, rehabilitating the exterior of this National Register of Historic Places eligible structure, which involved upgrades to meet Department of Defense Anti-Terrorism Force Protection standards without violating Illinois Historic Preservation Agency standards. The scope of work also provides for space for office, classroom and storage space; additional military and public parking; and, security lighting and fencing. This renovation is designed to achieve LEED Gold.
Bailey Edward respected the Armory’s original Art Deco style designed by architect S. Milton Eichberg. The armory’s design is streamlined and low slung, with long incised ribbons along the parapets and articulated entrances. The west entrance is accentuated by soaring vertical pilasters flanking the doors, topped with eagles, with a second set of soaring pilasters set back to the face of the drill hall. The south entrance is accentuated by the two-story office volume and flanking ‘towers’ on both corners.
View Original