Insert evocative title here: Loyola Alumni Gym Demolition

Friday, May 27, 2011

Loyola Alumni Gym Demolition

What's the deal with major Universities in Chicago these days? First, there's Northwestern's plan to demolish Prentice Women's Hospital, which is being vigorously fought by architects and preservation groups. Then, just this week I learned that Loyola is beginning demolition of their Alumni Gym. The gym is being torn down to make way for a new student union.

Alumni Gym may not be as architecturally significant as Prentice, and as far as I know, no one is protesting this-- yet it's a lovely building nonetheless. Built in 1923 and home to the 1963 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship team (an interesting story on racial integration), it features some beautiful terracotta and looks to be a perfectly sound structure. I understand the University has built new athletic facilities, but surely this could have been adapted for some other use?

I'm not a Loyola student or alumni, but friends who graduated from the University tell me that they barely recognize the campus anymore. Alumni Gym is just the latest victim of Loyola's plan to remake their campus into some modern image. It's really a shame, because I'm sure whatever shiny new building they erect in its place will be perfectly nice and functional, but it will never be the home to a National Championship team. No amount of glass and concrete can build school history like that.

Anyway, some photos. These were all taken on Monday, May 23rd, 2011.

Update July 2011 - this building has been torn down.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Loyola Alumni Gym Demolition

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