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Bielfeldt Athletic Administration BuildingConstructed: October 21, 1994Driving Directions |
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The gorgeous Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building was dedicated on October 4, 1996, nearly two years after the groundbreaking on October 21, 1994. Prior to the groundbreaking Director of Athletics, Ron Guenther stated, "We are really excited about this project getting underway. Beyond this building being a new office space for us, it's really a consolidation of our various departments and a headquarters for us. It will enhance communication among different areas and will make the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics more efficient."
The $7.2 million, 43,000-square-foot Bielfeldt Building, located on the east-west axis between the Atkins Tennis Center and the Assembly Hall, land which used to be the University Golf Course, was endowed by Gary and Carlotta Bielfeldt, and their family, of Peoria, Illinois.
The building, designed by the architectural firm of O'Donnell, Wicklund, Pigozzi & Peterson of Deerfield, incorporates facets of other DIA and University of Illinois buildings throughout campus. The roof is arched similarly to that of the Armory. Columns are imbedded in the wall of the Hall of Fame Room subtly reminding visitors of the columns found at Memorial Stadium. Window sills look like those found at Huff Hall. The red brick and limestone materials are similar to those used on most campus buildings. While the glass found on the exterior of the building is a light blue echoing the University's colors of orange and blue.
The Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building unites the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) administration, coaching (except men's and women's basketball, football, and men's tennis), corporate relations, I-FUND, marketing, sports information, and video staffs under one roof instead of throughout campus as was previously the case.
Also included in the Bielfeldt Building is a professional development and seminar room equipped with state of the art audio/visual equipment. A large lounge used to greet recruits and entertain potential donors. Locker rooms used by both the DIA staff and women's soccer team, a training room, exercise room, and the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Library.
Video Department Undergoes Major Renovations in Bielfeldt
During the 2007-08 University of Illinois athletic year, the Illini Productions video department underwent major renovations, which made a huge impact on the Illinois brand and it's creative abilities. Among the major changes was the building of a $1.5 million state of the art in-house studio and control room, which allows for direct control over the video boards at both Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall as well as the ability to host and produce in-house programming. The staff of six also expanded its production of programming for its athletic teams, fightingillini.com and the Big Ten Network.
I. Completed building on a state-of-the-art studio and control room to the tune of $1.5 million
- Built and designed an in-house television studio
- Updated and expanded the control room
- Converted from standard definition to high-definition
- Became the only school in the Big Ten to operate in high definition
- Added three new Avid edit bays
- Doubled the amount of audio/video racks to eight
II. Began directing, hosting and producing Illinois coaches shows
- Took "The Ron Zook Show," "The Bruce Weber Show," and "The Jolette Law Show" in-house
- Created extra programming for fightingillini.com, including a weekly web show called "Corner Kicks" exclusively for the Illini women's soccer program.
- Added and expanded original content for coachronzook.com and coachbruceweber.com
III. Increased its partnership with the Big Ten Network
- Have direct talk-back capabilities with the Big Ten Network studio in Chicago, for Illinois coaches and athletes to appear on BTN programming approximately 3-4 times weekly
- Debuted "Illini Insider" a monthly, half-hour show which features Illinois 19 sports and is hosted by Illini student-athletes
- Added non-athletic department programming on the Big Ten Network, the debut show being "Ebertfest."
IV. Continued special projects for Illinois athletics and the University
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