Lincoln Square Mall, 300 S. Broadway Ave.
This modernist brick-and-concrete structure is the earliest surviving enclosed shopping center in Illinois, and was designed in 1964 by Victor Gruen, one of the most influential retail architects and planners of the twentieth century. It also is the nation’s first enclosed shopping mall designed and integrated into the downtown of a small city. In 1961, the Urbana Central Development Company acquired and cleared a 9-square-block (14 acre) site just south of the business district, demolishing several residences and small commercial buildings in the process. The mall’s main interior feature is a two-story “High Court” (52 x 218 feet) with a beamed and coved ceiling. Extending from this central interior space, in a pinwheel-shaped plan that reflects the vacated street grid of Broadway and Green streets, are three single-story covered walkways lined with additional retail space. A two-story department store borders the east side of the court. Along the west are retail storefronts and a second-level balcony containing office space. The mall’s light brown brick exterior contains little external embellishment in keeping with Gruen’s desire for “quiet architecture” intended as a deliberate contrast from the bright lights and signage of the era’s commercial strips. Natural illumination comes from a skylight extending the length of the court. Exterior display windows, limited to the anchor store entry, were purposefully eliminated in the design, intentionally creating a draw of people into the mall and the interior focused retailers. Supporting piers have been combined with planters to create inner spaces and “walking corridors” of polished concrete.This building is not counted in the Downtown Urbana Historic District due to its previous listing on the National Register of Historic Places, as one resource with the attached Urbana Lincoln Hotel, for national significance.
Hotel Royer, Urbana-Lincoln Hotel
The Urbana-Lincoln Hotel is located at the southwest corner of South Broadway Avenue and West Elm Street, at 209 South Broadway Avenue. It was designed by the famous Urbana architect Joseph Royer in the Tudor Revival style and had a grand opening on November 14, 1923. The original four-story red brick structure featured exterior stucco and “half-timbering” on the third level. Other features include prominent gables, roof dormers, a steeply-pitched roof, exterior murals, faux wood balconies, and a crenelated brick entrance tower that can still be seen above the mall roof. The Jumer’s Hotel chain built a four-story addition in 1983. The Hotel is also listed as a landmark in the National Register of Historic Places with Lincoln Square Mall, and is listed in the Inventory of Historic Structures before W.W.II in Champaign County. It was recently purchased by a national hotel chain and renovations are currently in the design phase – stay tuned!
The Urbana Free Library, 210 S. Race St.
The Urbana Free Library is located near the intersection of Race Street and Green Street. The two-story, limestone building was designed by the Urbana architect Joseph Royer in the Beaux-Arts style in 1918. The original east entrance has large Doric columns with a recessed arch and balustrade, creating a lovely terrace space. The main entrance shifted in 2003, with the addition along Green Street. You can check out more than books, visit the coffeeshop, and enjoy the Race Street terrace!This property’s historical impact is identified as “contributing” to the Downtown Historic District.
Independent Media Center, 202 S. Broadway Ave.
The United States Post Office is located at the southeast corner of South Broadway Avenue and East West Elm Street, at 202 South Broadway. It was designed by Oscar Wenderoth in the Classical Revival style. The two-story, tan brick structure sits on a limestone base with a recessed grand entrance that is supported by four large limestone Corinthian columns. It is also listed in the Inventory of Historic Structures before W.W.II in Champaign County. The building is owned and operated by the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, a grassroots organization that supports the creation and distribution of media and art.
Nat Cohen Building, 136 W. Main St.
The Nathan H. Cohen Building is located at the corner of West Main and North Race Streets, and covers 132 and 136 West Main Street. It is an example of Classic Revival design and attributed to famous Urbana architect Joseph Royer, built of red brick with extensive ivory terra cotta trim in 1907. It even has an infamous gargoyle! Original tenants include a bank, a barber, and a confectioner on the first floor and a cigar factory on the second floor. Recent renovations will provide a restaurant and office space. Property owner Dan Maloney worked with city staff to bring the vision of the Downtown Urbana Historic District to reality.
The Courier Building, 111 N. Race St.
The Courier Building was designed in 1903 by Joseph Royer, and was originally home to The Urbana Courier Company newspaper. It is two stories of red brick with limestone trim, with a shed roof and parapet. The left/south bay of a four-bay façade is chamfered with a raised main entrance to the first story. This entrance’s historic double doors have the “Courier” name block in limestone above entrance. Two first-story large, fixed sash windows have limestone lintels and are topped by stained glass. The north end bay is a recessed staircase to the second story. The building was partially destroyed in a fire in 1950, and rebuilt. The Courier Café has called this home since 1980. This property’s historical impact is identified as “contributing” to the Downtown Urbana Historic District.
