Smith Memorial Hall, Historic university hall at University of Illinois, US
Smith Memorial Hall is a university building at the University of Illinois that houses a 900-seat recital hall with mahogany woodwork and a three-manual Casavant Frères organ. The building contains 49 practice rooms spread across its second and third floors for student use.
Construction took place between 1917 and 1921, making it the first building on campus funded entirely through a private donation from Captain Thomas J Smith. This funding allowed the university to establish a dedicated music facility.
The Memorial Room with crystal chandeliers hosts chamber music performances and student recitals throughout the academic year. This space shapes musical life on campus and remains central to how music students experience their training.
The building is located on South Mathews Avenue in Urbana and is easy to find on campus. Visitors can explore the recital hall and practice areas or attend performances held in the Memorial Room.
The building received recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 for its Beaux-Arts design by architect James M White. This distinction reflects the care taken to create a proper home for music studies in the early 20th century.
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