This collection documents the building of the University of Illinois Chicago Circle, championed by Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, through whose vision and determination this four-year public university was established in Chicago.
Construction began in 1963, but only the Walter Netsch-designed campus core buildings comprising Phase One were ready when the University opened in February 1965. The second and third phases of campus construction - with buildings designed by Walter Netsch and Harry Weese - continued from 1965 through 1971. A planned Phase Four of construction was cancelled.
Though sometimes referred to as an "instant campus," these construction images document the years of labor that went into campus building and development, as well as unique features of the original campus design such as the elevated walkway system, The Great Court, and The Circle Forum.
The image featured at the top of this collection page is 003-03-09-01_H-609-002-141-1968-01-25-PP, "Library addition, University of Illinois at Chicago Circle".