Press release

Presby Hall ribbon-cutting to inaugurate eco-friendly housing era on campus

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, October 10, 2008

Home to students since campus move-in day on August 21, Presby Hall will hold its official ribbon-cutting ceremony Sunday, October 19, at 2:00 p.m.

Recognized as the University of Illinois' first "green" housing option, Presby Hall was built according to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver standard, a benchmark the campus has been committed to since 2006. The building includes a ground source geothermal heating and cooling system.

Located at 405 E. John Street in Champaign, the 262-resident Presby Hall is one of the University's eight coed Certified Private Housing residences. It's owned by the McKinley Foundation and built adjacent to McKinley Memorial Presbyterian Church.

"If the University of Illinois is to maintain its status as one of the nation's best public research universities, we must demonstrate the same type of leadership in sustainability that we have shown elsewhere," Chancellor Richard Herman said in Inside Illinois. "Reducing our carbon footprint is the right thing to do."

The seven-floor Presby Hall was built by Stevens Construction Corp. out of Madison, Wisconsin. The property is managed by local firm Ramshaw Real Estate.

"Presby Hall has met the elements needed to obtain Private Certified Housing Status at the University of Illinois," said Mari Anne Brocker, UI Assistant Director of University Housing, Private Certified Housing. "Congratulations to the McKinley Foundation, Presby Hall, the Ramshaw staff, the Stevens Construction crew, and all others who contributed time and effort into this private certified student housing community."

Presby Hall residents all live in "suite-style" units, which include a living room, full kitchen, and two bathrooms, along with three or four bedrooms, for either five or six students. Each suite also includes a washer-dryer and balcony. There are eight suites per floor.