Campus & facilities
Great work deserves great spaces.
The Illinois experience is shaped not only by the people who learn and work here, but also by the spaces that bring them together. Donor support helps modernize learning environments, expand research capabilities, and create spaces that equip students and faculty with the tools they need to lead in a rapidly changing world.
Impact spotlight
Eltoukhy Family Innovation Lab Fund
New mechanical engineering maker lab puts students center stage
The opening of a new maker lab on campus is not only giving undergraduates a new space to imagine, test, and prototype their materials projects, it is giving them the opportunity to run the lab itself, from scheduling to equipment training.
The Eltoukhy Family Innovation Lab, a state-of-the-art maker space, is powered by a gift from Atef (GRAINGER ’76) and his wife, Fofa. Located on the first floor of the Materials Science and Engineering Building, it is designed with student innovation and collaboration at the forefront.
“Our educational lab experience is so important here. That defines us and is so distinctive of us as a college and as departments from almost any of our peers” said Grainger Engineering Dean Rashid Bashir.
The Eltoukhy Family Innovation Lab fund provides unrestricted support for the Lab.
Library Building Transformation Fund
Have a seat
For students, finding a comfortable place to study can make all the difference. Thanks to the generosity of Library Friends Megan (LAS ’80) and Steve (GIES ’79) Shebik, the Main Library now offers new booth-style seating on the second and third floors, providing students with a welcoming place to focus, recharge, and collaborate. With easy access to power outlets and the right balance of privacy and openness, the booths have quickly become among the library’s most popular study spots. Their constant use is a testament to how donor support directly improves the student experience every day.
The Library Building Transformation Fund supports major renovation/building projects at the University Library.
Giving stories
Support what drives Illinois forward
Together, we can accelerate discovery, empower students, and create lasting impact at Illinois.