Illinois Traction Building, railway station in Champaign, the United States of America
The Illinois Traction Building is a railway station and office building in Champaign constructed in 1913 and originally serving the Illinois Traction System. The structure has three stories with red brick walls, decorative terracotta medallions and shields on the facade, and windows with terracotta sills and lintels.
William B. McKinley founded the Illinois Traction System in the 1890s by first purchasing and electrifying streetcar lines before expanding his network to include interurban railway lines. Service ended in 1936 when buses took over the route, and the building was later used by the Illinois Power Company until it relocated in 1985.
The building carries the name of the railway system that shaped the city. Visitors can notice how it reflects the era when train stations stood as symbols of progress, with its red brick walls and terracotta details that gave travelers a sense of quality and connection.
The building sits on University Avenue at a central location in the city and is easy to find. Visitors can walk past the structure to observe its classic architecture and well-maintained features from the early 1900s.
The building was designed by architect Joseph Royer and displays a simpler style than his usual work, which typically employed heavier or rougher materials. This departure from his typical designs makes it a notable example of functional architecture that still maintained elegant detail work.
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