Champaign City Building, Art Deco municipal building in downtown Champaign, Illinois
Champaign City Building is a municipal structure in downtown Champaign that features geometric patterns across its facade and a distinctive tower. The building includes administrative offices and council chambers housed within its Art Deco design.
Construction began in 1935 during the Great Depression using federal funding from the Public Works Administration program. The building emerged as part of a broader civic modernization effort across the Midwest during this era.
The building design, inspired by Los Angeles City Hall, represents the architectural evolution of Midwest civic structures during the 1930s modernization period.
The building is located in downtown Champaign and easy to reach when exploring the city center on foot. Visitors can view the exterior and sometimes access public areas, though it primarily functions as an administrative hub.
The original land came from David Bailey in 1888 with a requirement to build a structure worth at least 5,000 dollars. This condition from a private donor shaped the later construction plans and reflects how civic projects sometimes depended on local patrons.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.