Together with the existing lab building, the new CDRLC creates a dramatic public atrium for social interactions with visual and physical connections to all floors.
Computer Design, Research, and Learning Center
University of Illinois Chicago
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Owner
University of Illinois Chicago
Associate Architect: Booth Hansen
General Contractor: W.E. O'Neil
Construction Manager: Mortenson Construction
Structural Engineering: Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Drucker Zajdel Structural Engineers
MEP Engineering: Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
Civil Engineering: Terra Engineering, Ltd.
Landscape Architecture: SITE Design Group, Ltd.
Lighting Design: Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design
Project Size
134,735 square feet
Project Status
In Progress
Certifications
Targeting LEED New Construction Gold
Services
Architecture, Interior Design, Planning
The Computer Design, Research, and Learning Center (CDRLC) at the University of Illinois Chicago creates a new, welcoming home for the Computer Science department, supporting a diverse student body and expanding access to technology education. Organized around a five-story, light-filled atrium, the 135,000-square-foot building unifies classrooms, labs, offices, and lounges into a collaborative academic hub.
The design blends refined precast concrete with bronze, terra cotta, and wood accents, fostering warmth and connection to the campus’s historic context. Curving around Memorial Grove, the CDRLC opens new pathways and views, while the interior’s tactile materials, color, and art encourage comfort and engagement. The first two floors pulse with student activity, while upper levels house research and faculty spaces. Sustainable features, including a geothermal field and daylighting strategies, support LEED Gold goals, positioning the CDRLC as a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking campus destination.
“The new CDRLC represents the future of higher education at UIC and is intended to be a welcoming space to promote innovation, collaboration, and discovery.”
– Peter Nelson, Dean, UIC College of Engineering
