CATALOGUE: STAIRCASES
Assignment: Pick an element of the built environment on the University of Illinois campus and create a catalog.
October 2022
THE STAIRS
Staircases throughout the University of Illinois campus are an architectural exhibit - displaying the evolution of building codes. The University’s first structure was built in 1867, the same year New York City adopted the first governmental building codes in the United States. Over time, we have adapted the built environment to be more accessible, often seen in increased stair treads and reduced risers. I ventured to multiple campus buildings, counted their steps, measured their rise/run, and documented them in order to provide this precedent.

Architecture BLDG, 1873
24 Steps; R:6.75” – T:12.5”

Natural History BLDG, 1892
27 Steps; R:7.5” – T:12.5”

Davenport Hall, 1895
23 Steps; R:7” – T:12”

Altgeld Hall, 1896
32 Steps; R:6.5” – T:12”

Main Math Stacks, 1897
12 Steps; R:7” – T:10.5”

English BLDG, 1905
22 Steps; R:6.75” – T:12”

Foellinger Auditorium, 1907
22 Steps; R:6.5” – T:7”

Lincoln Hall, 1910
28 Steps; R:6.5” – T:12”

Transportation BLDG, 1913
24 Steps; R:6.5” – T:11.5”

Ceramics Building, 1913
22 Steps; R:7” – T:11.75”

Smith Memorial Hall, 1917
29 Steps; R:7” – T:12.5”1

Main Library, 1923
34 Steps; R:7” – T:13.75”

Talbot Lab, 1928
22 Steps; R:7” – T:11.5”

Gregory Hall, 1939
22 Steps; R:7” – T:12.75”

Illini Union, 1941
27 Steps; R:7.25” – T:11.5”

Everitt Lab, 1949
25 Steps; R:7” – T:11.5”

Loomis Lab, 1958
20 Steps; R:6.75” – T:12.5”

Beckman Institute, 1986
32 Steps; R:5.75” – T:13”

Micro/Nanotech Lab, 1989
24 Steps; R:6.5” – T:12.5”

Grainger Library, 1992
25 Steps; R:7.25” – T:13.5”

Temple Buell Hall, 1992
20 Steps; R:6.5” – T:12

Temple Buell Hall, 1992
20 Steps – R:4.5” – T:12.5”

FUNK Library, 2001
38 Steps; R:6.5” – T:12”

Everitt Lab, 1949
25 Steps; R:7” – T:11.5”

ECE Building, 2014
36 Steps; R:6” – T:13.5”

Turner Hall, 2017
20 Steps; R:7” – T:11”

Illinois Resident Hall, 2022
22 Steps; R:6.75” – T:11”

Campus Inst. Facility, 2023
29 Steps; R:7.25” – T:11.5”
