URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - Leaders gathered to celebrate the ongoing progress of the Doris Kelley Christopher Illinois Extension Center in Urbana.
A beam signing event was held Monday with campus and Extension leaders, advocates and members of the project team gathering.
The Doris Kelley Christopher Illinois Extension Center was first announced in Fall 2021.
Newly appointed Associate Dean and Director of Illinois Extension, Matthew Vann, said, “The Doris Kelley Christopher Illinois Extension Center represents the future of Extension programming, partnerships, and collaboration. Thanks to the vision and generosity of Doris Kelley Christopher, this facility will strengthen our ability to create lasting, positive impact for all residents across Illinois.”
The 39,500 square-foot facility sits on a 7.8-acre site in the campus’ arboretum.
Extension leaders said it will further enable staff to organize around its "eight strategic priorities, deepen its institutional effectiveness, and fulfill its mission of 'Lifelong Learning. Lifelong Impact' across programs in 4-H, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer sciences, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy."
The facility will include:
- Flexible classrooms and event space for community education
- Technology-enabled meeting rooms to support hybrid and remote engagement
- A demonstration kitchen and teaching garden to promote healthy living and food access
- Collaborative workspaces for Extension staff and partners
- Status as a LEED silver and WELL silver building
Christopher Extension Center will become a flagship site for University of Illinois Extension.
The Christopher Extension Center will feature three “jewel” spaces, a media studio, a maker space, and a discovery kitchen that will let educators provide hands-on learning, high-quality training videos and educational materials.
The grounds surrounding the facility will feature gardens and other spaces for gathering and teaching.
There will be flexible, technology-equipped classrooms, conference rooms, and centers for gathering.
The facility will offer opportunities for lead sponsors to invest in the future of Illinois Extension through naming rights and other benefits. The contact for sponsorship and naming rights is Maggie Wave, assistant dean for advancement in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at wave1@illinois.edu.
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