Anchored on the southwest end of the Quad, the historic Lincoln Hall may be dilapidated and disorganized, but on Friday afternoon it took one small, tentative step toward possible improvement.

University President B. Joseph White, along with State Representative Naomi Jakobsson, LAS Dean Sarah Mangelsdorf and Capital Development Board Executive Director Jan Grimes announced the release of $3 million for planning and design work on renovation projects for Lincoln Hall. The money for the renovation, released by the governor, currently totals $5 million, thanks to $2 million previously received in 2004.

“Lincoln Hall needs a major renovation if it’s going to keep pace with more modern classroom buildings on this campus,” Grimes said at the press conference. “But renovation projects of this scale don’t happen over night and they certainly don’t come out of thin air.”

Lincoln Hall, constructed in 1911 with the last major improvements in 1930 when the west half and theater were added, suffers from many structural problems, ranging from poor ventilation and a leaky roof to cracked floor tiles and peeling paint.

“Our plan is to restore the shell of the building and then turn the inside into space that meets the demands of a 21st-century university with 21st-century students,” White said.

Mangelsdorf estimated that around 15 percent of all University classes are taught in the building. Such large volume and frequent use by faculty, students and staff has visibly taken its toll. The future renovation project hopes to address the backlogged list of repairs while upgrading and re-configuring the building’s interior without disturbing its historic elements.

Construction is slated to begin in spring of 2008 and be completed in time for the 2010-2011 school year.

“All of us here love Lincoln Hall, it’s a beautiful, historic building,” Mangelsdorf said. “And every day when I walk through it, it breaks my heart to see another floor tile falling off or another piece of the ceiling falling down.”

However, the repair woes of Lincoln Hall are just a small slice of a larger $800 million problem on campus. Years of little to no state funding have pushed multiple maintenance projects onto the University’s back burner. Now, with the number of projects and their cost ballooning each year, the University has been forced to take action.

In April, the Board of Trustees approved a $500 annual fee for all incoming students to help eliminate the huge sum of backlogged maintenance. The new revenue will be used to repair or enhance existing campus buildings in need of such improvements. Yet, the newly approved fee is expected to cover only half of the total cost.

Leading Jakobsson and Grimes through Lincoln Hall’s dank and cluttered basement, Mangelsdorf pointed out the various eyesores and challenges for the building. Broken desks littered the floor, low-hanging pipes obstructed walkways and chipped plaster broke up the walls.

Mangelsdorf, who teaches and has an office in Lincoln Hall, recalled for the group just how far the structure’s condition and reputation has deteriorated. While helping her high school daughter register for college entrance exams, she discovered its problems are not simply know by the University.

“They were telling us where the kids could take their ACT or SAT and they said, ‘Don’t sign up to take it at the U of I because they’ll put you in Lincoln Hall where the lighting is bad and a lot of the chairs don’t have the thing to write on.” Mangelsdorf said.

She also recalled several run-ins with some of the buildings live-in residents: squirrels and possums.

“We’re coming up on the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth,” Mangelsdorf stated. “We must restore Lincoln Hall.”

According to a press release, the total cost of the project is currently estimated at $55.8 million, leaving the University still approximately $50 million short. Moreover, the $50 million estimation is expected to increase in the coming years as construction costs rise. Where the extra money will come from to close the gap is a question that for the moment remains unanswered.

White is hopeful the state will foot the majority of the bill, relieving the financial burden from the University.

“I would love it all to come from the state and I will be making that case,” White said. “This is a state asset and a vital one.”

Yet, given the lack of a state money for deferred maintenance repairs during the last four years, it is questionable if the University will see heavy or any financial support from the government. To close the funding gap University funds, student fees and private contributions may be necessary.

“We realize that (funding) may have to come from a combination of sources.” Mangelsdorf said. “We don’t think in this current economic picture that all of the money will come from the state but as (White) says it’s hard to imagine that after four years with no capital budget that the state will continue like that forever.”

When the solution of possible private donations from individuals or groups was raised, White felt the likelihood of that happening was low.

“I don’t think private gifts will play a enormous role,” White said. “I think this is going to have to be state capital and University funds from other sources.”

Another potential problem for the renovation is the closure of one the most used buildings on campus. Spending two or more years without valuable class or office space could lead to crowding in other locations.

“I’ve been through a lot of big renovation programs at universities and, yes, it crowds them,” White said. “But these are big, capacious places and when the purpose is worthwhile I generally found the community to be very understanding about making accommodations.”

In spite of the long and uncertain road ahead, many remained optimistic about Lincoln Hall’s future, viewing the $5 million as a strong start.

“(Lincoln Hall has) just reached a state where restoration is just so badly needed. It is a tight budget time but what you have before you is $5 million for planning and design and that is a considerable investment.” Grimes said. “Once the designer has the plans together and a cost estimate we’ll know what it’s going to take to undertake construction but their is a commitment to make this happen.”