Kenney Gym and Kenney Gym Annex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Military Drill Hall and Men's Gymnasium
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Kenney Gym Annex (2006), built in 1890 as a drill hall
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| Location | 1402-1406 W. Springfield Ave Urbana, Illinois |
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| Built | Drill Hall (Annex): 1890 Gymnasium: 1902 |
| Architect | Drill Hall (Annex): Nathan Clifford Ricker Gymnasium: Nelson Strong Spencer |
| Architectural style | Gymnasium: Renaissance Revival |
| MPS | University of Illinois Buildings by Nathan Clifford Ricker TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003144 |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1986 |
The Kenney Gym and the Kenney Gym Annex are two important buildings. They are located at 1402-06 Springfield Avenue in Urbana, Illinois. Both buildings are part of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus.
Even though they have been connected since 1914, they were built at different times. In 1986, they were added together to the National Register of Historic Places. Their official name on the list is Military Drill Hall and Men's Gymnasium.
Contents
History of Kenney Gym Buildings
These two buildings have a long and interesting past. They started as separate structures. Over time, they grew together and changed their uses.
The Kenney Gym Annex: A Military Start
The building now called the Kenney Gym Annex is the older of the two. It was built between 1889 and 1890. Originally, it was known as the Military Drill Hall. Nathan Clifford Ricker was the person who designed this building.
In 1914, the inside of the Drill Hall was changed. It became a gymnasium. At this time, it got its new name: the Annex to the Men's Gym. The large, open space inside was kept. This was important for both military drills and gym activities. A new section was added to the east side of the building in 1918.
Kenney Gym: From Men's Gym to a Special Name
The Kenney Gym is the two-story building located to the west. It was built in 1902. Nelson Strong Spencer designed this building. He used a style called Renaissance Revival. This style was inspired by Ricker's design for the drill hall.
At first, this building was called the Men's Gymnasium. Later, in 1925, it was renamed the Men's Old Gym. This happened when a new building, Huff Hall, opened. In 1974, the gym was given a special name. It was named after Harold Eugene "Hek" Kenney. He was a famous wrestler, coach, and leader at the University of Illinois.
Before 1925, Kenney Gym was home to the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team. It also hosted the women's volleyball team from 1974 to 1989. The men's wrestling team also used this gym. All these teams later moved to Huff Hall. From 1919 to 1925, Kenney Gym was a big deal for high school sports. It hosted the state finals for the Illinois High School Association boys' basketball tournament.
What Kenney Gym is Used For Today
Both Kenney Gym and its Annex are still very active buildings. They serve many purposes for students and athletes.
Kenney Gym Annex: A Multi-Purpose Arena
Today, the Kenney Gym Annex is a large multi-purpose arena. It has seating for 5,000 people. This means it can host many different events.
Kenney Gym: Home for Gymnastics
The Kenney Gym is now the main practice area. It is used by the Fighting Illini men's and women's gymnastics teams. They train here to get ready for their competitions.
Supporting Local High School Sports
The buildings are also used by University Laboratory High School. This high school is in Urbana, Illinois. It is just two blocks east of Kenney Gym. High school students use the gym for volleyball and basketball games. They also use it for their physical education classes.
