Units returning to CUPPA Hall after relocation

Students study together in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs Thursday as employees move back into their offices. — Photos: R. Glass

Several College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs units returned to CUPPA Hall Thursday after being temporarily relocated a year ago for building repairs.

UIC faculty, staff and students who have offices in CUPPA Hall moved out of the building in February 2015 after the southeast corner of CUPPA Hall sustained damage during work on the Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction project. The building, at 412 S. Peoria St., is located along the Eisenhower Expressway where the Illinois Department of Transportation’s $475 million, four-year Byrne Interchange reconstruction is under way.

A window-replacement project was also partially completed in the building while employees and students were in temporary offices.

Faculty and students who had moved to the Student Residence Hall on the west side are returning to the building this week, said Jodi White Jones, assistant dean for communications for the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs.

“Everybody is anxious to get back to business as usual,” Jones said. “It’s difficult to be out of where your home base is, there’s no doubt about it, but for safety, health and cleanliness purposes, we needed to. But the campus has been very supportive, with colleges offering us space when we need it.”

Three units housed in the southeast corner of the building, which is still under repair, remain in temporary locations. The Survey Research Lab is in the Student Services Building, the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy is on South Campus at 1253 S. Halsted St., and the Center for Public Safety and Justice is in the Rice Building, 815 W. Van Buren St.

During fall semester, CUPPA classes were held in various buildings across the east side of campus. Students returned this semester to classrooms in the adjoining Art and Exhibition Hall.

“Because of the window project, we couldn’t have students in AEH in the fall,” Jones said. “Those classrooms are really nice — it’s a really good investment and a cool space.”