Northwestern University Lakefill
The lakefill resulted from the university's need to expand the campus's physical footprint; Northwestern President J. Roscoe Miller received permission from the town of Evanston and the Illinois legislature (as well as many other groups) to reclaim 74 acres (30 hectares) of underwater land.
Creation of the lakefill was reinforced by the university's need to expand, but in a way that did not crowd the campus with more buildings, or infringe on Evanston land.
[4] Following the purchase of the land, the university obtained permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on September 6, 1961, and finally began construction on the lakefill in July 1962.
The scope of the project evolved into a 20-year plan, including the construction of multiple scholastic, gallery, and performance buildings, alongside space for recreational and athletic activities on the campus.
The large pond within the middle of the lakefill was included not only for aesthetic purposes of the campus, but additionally to serve as the cooling reserve for Northwestern's Central Utility Plant.
The space is used to host events such as Dillo Day, the largest student-run music festival in the country,[9] and the local Relay for Life program.
[10][11] The lakefill has become an integral part of campus and student life as a space for unwinding, working out or coming together for these greater events and traditions.
In 2021, work was performed to add more rocks to the lakefront edge to prevent erosion from occurring, and a small strip of land on the southwest end was allowed to run wild with tall grasses and flowers.
[15] Named in the memory of alumnus Lester J. Norris following a $2.5 million donation from his parents, Northwestern's student center was designed by Edward D. Dart, and completed in 1971.
[16] A New Student Center Initiative was drawn up in 2010 by a student-led movement, which called for the creation of a more central and modern facility, and argued that this would help promote a greater sense of community and inclusion on campus.
In response, the administration engaged the consulting firm Brailsford and Dunlavey to assess this proposal and conduct research on how best to meet the student body's needs.
Led by the Division of Student Affairs with Ennead Architects of New York City and Northwestern's Facility Management, the two-year plan was unanimously approved by the Educational Properties Committee of the university's board of trustees.
The 95,000 sq ft (8,800 m2) pavilion, which includes the Lester J. Norris Aquatics Center, houses a diverse set of exercise equipment, an Olympic-size swimming and diving pool, practice courts, studio space, and massage and sauna services.
[24] Designed by Toronto architectural firm KPMB, the 410,000-square-foot (38,000 m2) glass building on the north side of the lakefill was opened on March 28, 2017, and includes Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management faculty, staff and students, as well as Weinberg College’s Department of Economics.
[26] Apart from its high technology and flexibility of furniture within classrooms, the building is also notable for its eco-friendly design that will reduce energy consumption by 30% below standard requirements.
