University of Illinois Assembly Hall, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
This massive structure was constructed between 1959 and 1963. The circular, edge-supported dome is 400 feet in diameter, composed of folded-plate concrete segments 3.5" thick. Max Abramovitz of Harrison & Abramovitz was the architect. Edward Cohen of Ammann & Whitney was the structural engineer.
This is one of the more famous examples of thin-shell concrete, partly because the architects and engineers were already famous, partly because of the unique dome-on-inverted-dome design, partly because it was touted (at the time) as the largest thin-shell concrete dome in the world. This building was widely featured in textbooks, journal articles, and advertisements.
Light rain kept us in the car but I still got shots from several angles, without getting my camera wet.
General view
General view
General view
General view
Close-up of external canopy
Close-up of external canopy
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This is one of the more famous examples of thin-shell concrete, partly because the architects and engineers were already famous, partly because of the unique dome-on-inverted-dome design, partly because it was touted (at the time) as the largest thin-shell concrete dome in the world. This building was widely featured in textbooks, journal articles, and advertisements.
Light rain kept us in the car but I still got shots from several angles, without getting my camera wet.
General view
General view
General view
General view
Close-up of external canopy
Close-up of external canopy
S