TheKenney Gymand theKenney Gym Annexare two buildings located at 1402-06 Springfield Avenue inUrbana, Illinois,on the campus on theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Although the two buildings have been physically connected since 1914, they were built separately.[3]They were jointly added to theNational Register of Historic Placesin 1986 under the nameMilitary Drill Hall and Men's Gymnasium.[4]
Military Drill Hall and Men's Gymnasium | |
 Kenney Gym Annex (2006), built in 1890 as a drill hall | |
| Location | 1402-1406 W. Springfield Ave Urbana, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°6′46.43″N88°13′39.83″W/ 40.1128972°N 88.2277306°W |
| Built | Drill Hall (Annex):1890 Gymnasium:1902 |
| Architect | Drill Hall (Annex):Nathan Clifford Ricker Gymnasium:Nelson Strong Spencer |
| Architectural style | Gymnasium:Renaissance Revival[2] |
| MPS | University of Illinois Buildings by Nathan Clifford Ricker TR |
| NRHP referenceNo. | 86003144[1] |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1986 |
History
editThe one-story building now known as theKenney Gym Annex,the easternmost of the two structures, was built in 1889-90 as the Military Drill Hall and was designed byNathan Clifford Ricker.The interior was converted for use as a gymnasium in 1914, at which time it became known as the Annex to the Men's Gym building next to it. The conversion preserved the building's large column-free open space, which had been a necessity for military drilling. An eastern addition was made to the building in 1918.[3]
TheKenney Gym,the two-story building to the west, was built in 1902 and was designed by Nelson Strong Spencer[3]in theRenaissance Revival style,[2]strongly influenced by Ricker's design for the drill hall.[3]It was originally called the Men's Gymnasium but was renamed the Men's Old Gym whenHuff Hallopened in 1925. In 1974, it was named after Harold Eugene "Hek" Kenney, a former UIUC wrestler, coach, and administrator in the early 20th century.[2]
Prior to the opening of Huff Hall in 1925, Kenney Gym housed theIllinois Fighting Illini men's basketballteam. It was also home to thewomen's volleyballprogram from 1974 until 1989 and the men's wrestling team until those teams moved toHuff Hall.[5]
From 1919 to 1925, Kenney Gym played host to the state finals of theIllinois High School Associationboys' basketball tournament.
Current use
editKenney Gym Annex is a 5,000-seat multi-purposearena.Kenney Gym is the practice facility for theFighting Illinimen's and women'sgymnasticsteams.
The buildings are also used byUniversity Laboratory High SchoolinUrbana,located two blocks east of Kenney Gym on Springfield Avenue, as their gym for high school volleyball and basketball, along with their physical education program.
References
editNotes
- ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.January 23, 2007.
- ^abc"H.E. Kenney Gym"Archived2014-02-09 at theWayback Machineon the Fighting Illini Facilities page
- ^abcd"NRHP Designation Report"
- ^Chart toppers: Best area gyms to watch a prep game, courtesy Marcus JacksonThe News Gazette - February 28, 2012
- ^"Wrestling".fightingillini.Retrieved2017-05-06.
External links
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