UIC Skyspace, Light art installation at University of Illinois campus, Chicago, United States
UIC Skyspace is a round pavilion on the University of Illinois Chicago campus with a diameter of about 43 feet (13 meters) and a ceiling height of about 26 feet (8 meters). The central opening toward the sky is the core of the design, and the LED lighting in the ceiling changes its appearance depending on the time of day.
The installation opened in 2005 at Earl Neal Plaza, named after a lawyer who shaped the development of the university's South Campus. The project was part of a broader effort to improve public spaces on the campus grounds.
The work demonstrates James Turrell's approach to light and spatial perception. Visitors experience the sky through the central opening in an unexpected way, as the LED lighting blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior space.
The work stands at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Halsted Street and is accessible around the clock. Water fountains reduce surrounding noise, creating a quieter place to spend time.
Unlike other Skyspace works, this one operates in the middle of a city and offers completely different views depending on weather and lighting conditions. The contrast between the busy campus environment and the quiet experience under the sky is particularly striking.
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