The University rededicated Lincoln Hall on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday Tuesday, exactly 100 years after the building’s original dedication.
Ruth Watkins, dean of LAS, delivered opening remarks and said she was pleased with the renovations to the building.
“The long-awaited historic restoration has created a 21st century learning environment for thousands of students,” Watkins said.
She said the hall has been a great asset to the community since restoration.
The ceremony also celebrated the end of two years of construction on Lincoln Hall. Gov. Pat Quinn visited the University to participate in the rededication.
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“It’s really special to be here,” Quinn said. “An education and higher education are not just for the elite. It’s for everybody, and that’s what the University of Illinois stands for.”
Bob Tandy, construction administrator for the Lincoln Hall project, said Lincoln Hall holds souvenirs from past generations of students.
“During the construction, we actually found some artifacts from the early ’20s and ’30s that students have left here,” Tandy said.
Peter O’Brien, chair of the Illinois Capital Development Board, said the board is looking forward to working with the University on other projects.
“We look forward to coming back to the University of Illinois to build more buildings, (and) to improve more of the infrastructures,” O’Brien said.
Carina can be reached at [email protected].
