Built in 1892, the building originally housed the university's departments of botany, zoology, and geology.

[2] Architect Nathan Clifford Ricker designed the High Victorian Gothic building.

After an extensive, $79 million renovation, it reopened in August 2017[4] and now houses the School of Earth, Society, and Environment (SESE) including the Departments of Atmospheric Sciences, Geology and Geography and Geographic Information systems, as well as teaching space for the School of Integrative Biology (SIB).

In 2019, the building received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold status for its renovation being conducted in an environmentally efficient manner, which included using renewable materials, utilizing energy-efficient technology, and focusing on natural lighting.

[5] This article about a property in Champaign County, Illinois on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.