Architectural Significance
Memorial Stadium is in the Classical Revival Style. It is symmetrical on a north-south axis with double-decked seating along the east and west portions of the playing field. Horseshoe seating, added after initial construction, connects the main stands at the south end of the stadium. Flanking both the east and west stands are ramp towers, emphasizing the four corners of the field.
On the exterior of the stadium, the ramp towers – clearly distinguishable from the stadium’s interior – become part of the east and west façades. The towers and main portion of the façades, which extend to the height of the upper balcony seating, are clad in brick with a limestone base, belt coursing, and detailing. Each pair of towers is separated from the main portion of the façade by slightly projecting limestone bays. Each limestone bay is emphasized by rusticated quoins and is marked with an inscription commemorating World War I and athletics. At the upper level of the main portion of the façade, the stadium’s trademark limestone colonnade with Doric columns extends between the limestone bays. Each column has an inscription of the name of a soldier or sailor from the University who died in World War I.
Brick with limestone detailing wraps each tower to the field side of the stadium. On all three elevations of each tower, limestone medallions are located below the parapet wall. On the field side of each tower, as well as on the north and south ends of the stadium, engaged colonnades supporting entablatures are centrally located at the upper portion of the tower façades. Within each colonnade, three tall fixed windows with limestone panels above separate the columns. Limestone brackets support an ornamental balustrade at the base of each colonnade. Urns sit atop the parapet wall above the slightly projecting colonnade. The colonnade is supported below by the brick bay which is accentuated by rusticated limestone quoins.
Entry to the stadium occurs on the east and west elevations at the central portion of the façade. Eight classically inspired entrance doors and surrounds with arched transoms are spaced at regular intervals. Between each door are three rectangular windows. On both the west and east façades, these doors open to a great hall. Adjacent to each great hall are eight concrete ramps that lead to the upper levels of the stands. Beyond the ramps, restrooms are divided by corridors that connect to the main stands.
Exit doors are located on the east and west façades at the base of the four towers. These doors with rectangular transoms and surrounds are classically inspired and each has a limestone panel above. Within each tower is a set of intertwining ramps that efficiently lead visitors from the stands to the exterior of the building. The ramps follow the four walls of the tower in a spiral path, leaving the center of the tower open. Each tower is capped with a large skylight.
Additions & Alterations
- Originally, at the open end of the stadium (north end) a curved brick and limestone wall and gateway opened toward campus. The wall has since been taken down and was replaced by a separate athletic facility, the campus recreation building.
- Originally, the south end of the field had an embankment and grass terrace with wooden benches for seating. This area was enveloped by a brick wall with limestone coping. The wall remains but the seating and terrace supports were removed and replaced by a concrete horseshoe seating structure designed by Holabird & Root in March of 1929.
- In 1966, Holabird & Root designed a three-story press box on the west side of the stadium atop the second tier grandstand. An elevator was included in this addition and pierces the colonnade walkway. That same year Holabird & Root designed a memorial wall, located in the north end zone, dedicated to Robert Zuppke.
The Architects: Holabird & Roche
William Holabird (1854-1923) was born in Amenia Union, New York, and studied for two years at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He resigned from the academy in 1875 and moved to Chicago to practice architecture. Holabird worked as a draftsman under William LeBaron Jenney (the father of the modern skyscraper) until 1880, when Holabird left Jenney and joined with Ossian Simonds to start a new firm.
Martin Roche (1855-1927) was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1857. Roche entered the firm of William Le Baron Jenney in 1872 and joined Holabird and Simonds in 1881. Two years later the firm Holabird & Roche was formally established.
The firm of Holabird & Roche was part of the Chicago School, an architectural style launched with the advent of the Chicago skyscraper. Holabird & Roche designed rational and utilitarian skyscrapers. Notable Holabird & Roche commissions include the Tacoma Building of 1888, the Marquette Building of 1894, and Soldier Field (Chicago) of 1920. Illinois campus buildings designed by Holabird & Roche include the Education Building (University High School) and the Horticulture Field Laboratory (University Archives Research Center).
The successor firm of Holabird & Roche was formed in 1929 after the deaths of William Holabird and Martin Roche. John Holabird (Holabird’s son) along with John Root, Jr. (the son of another famous Chicago architect) renamed the firm Holabird & Root. Holabird & Root became a very successful firm and designed notable projects including the Palmolive Building (1927-1929) and the Chicago Board of Trade Building (1930). In 1929, they designed the horseshoe addition for Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois.
