English Building (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

The English Building, originally known as the Woman's Building, is a historic academic structure at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, completed in 1905 and expanded in subsequent years. Designed in the Georgian Revival style by the renowned firm McKim, Mead & White, it features a distinctive Neoclassical colonnade added in 1913. Initially serving as a safe space for women, it housed various departments, including Home Economics and Physical Education for Women. Renamed Bevier Hall in 1947, it became the English Building in 1956 when the Department of English moved in. The building is noted for its architectural significance and is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a female student who drowned in its pool, adding an intriguing layer for visitors and researchers alike.