I lived at Illinois Street Residence Hall my freshman year. It wasn’t the best, and I am so happy to say that some big changes are currently being made.

Goodbye, prehistoric ISR. Hello, much-needed renovations.

In May, ISR started undergoing renovations that will update the living and dining spaces. The residence hall, located between Illinois and Green streets, was built 54 years ago and hasn’t been touched since. Until now.

According to the University Housing website, the project involves “approximately 316,300 square feet in renovation and new construction that will increase dining capacity, improve building efficiency and sustainability, and showcase a vibrant residential experience to students, parents and guests who visit campus.”

The multi-million-dollar transformation and addition started with phase one, “Dining and Programmatic Space,” which will continue through August 2020. Phase two, “Student Rooms,” will begin May 2019 and go through August 2020.

Phase one’s design is going to create open, welcoming spaces for students and residents and promote natural lighting with large windows. A new dining space on the first floor will increase seating from 750 to 1,385, and will be centered around nine mini-restaurants, each with a different theme or type of food.

A promenade-style “main street” will serve as a type of courtyard, with garage-like doors opening into community spaces such as a tea bar, Innovations Living-Learning Committee garage, multi-purpose rooms, a fitness center, a meditation room and a University Counseling Center satellite office.

Phase two restoration will involve renovating student rooms and common areas, with a fresh coat of paint, new room furniture, enhanced climate control technology, energy-efficient windows and individual bathrooms.

For those of you who have lived in ISR, you know this is a huge deal, especially the individual bathrooms part.

And for those of you who currently live in ISR or are considering living there, you will continue to live there during each phase of construction. The north entrance on Green Street is currently closed, and certain floors and rooms will be closed off during the process. Housing during spring break will not be offered.

Limited dining is available on-site during construction via the Housing food truck (seasonally) and a new location for Chomps. Nearby dining halls, including LAR and Busey-Evans, are options for ISR residents as well.

Additionally, dining is offered in collaboration with the Illini Union. Located on the first floor of the Union, Orange on Green provides lunch and dinner with made-to-order salads, soups and sandwiches.

Blue 41 is open in the lllini Union Ballroom on the second floor and provides breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, along with brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday.

This location will provide a sit-down atmosphere with dining hall menu items.

If you’re in the process of choosing housing for next year, be sure to take a look at ISR.

Molly is a junior in FAA.

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