Local 8 Illinois
Natural History Building Renovation
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois
Signatory Contractor:
Otto Baum Company, Inc.
Morton, Illinois
RG Construction Services, Inc.
East Peoria, Illinois
Missouri Terrazzo Company, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri
TSI Commercial Floor Covering
Champaign, Illinois
Murphy Marble Company
Chicago, Illinois
Architect/Designer:
LCM Architects
Chicago, Illinois
Built in 1892 and housing the Departments of Botany, Zoology and Geology, this High Victorian Gothic building is one of the oldest on the University of Illinois’ campus and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The renovation work was performed by members of BAC Local 8 Illinois, and involved the full range of BAC crafts, including masonry/PCC, plaster, terrazzo, ceramic tile, and marble.
The project was launched in November 2014 and completed in May 2017. It generated approximately 40,000 hours for 70 BAC members. Thanks to their hard work, the building has state-of-the-art labs and classrooms, while also maintaining the integrity of the original building design. The Natural History Building Renovation is a true testament to the training, skills, and professionalism of all the BAC trades.