UIS finalizes purchase of downtown building for Innovation Center's new home

Steven Spearie, State Journal-Register
·3 min read
Business incubation coordinator Trisha Schlobohm, right, talks with new member John Baranzelli at the Innovate Springfield incubator on Tuesday Dec. 6, 2022. Innovate Springfield will move into the University of Illinois Springfield's new Innovation Center at Fourth and Washington in 2025.
Business incubation coordinator Trisha Schlobohm, right, talks with new member John Baranzelli at the Innovate Springfield incubator on Tuesday Dec. 6, 2022. Innovate Springfield will move into the University of Illinois Springfield's new Innovation Center at Fourth and Washington in 2025.

The University of Illinois Springfield has finalized the purchase of a downtown building that will serve as the new home of the UIS Innovation Center.

The center will take over the three-story, 24,600-square-foot Illinois Sheriffs' Association building at 401 E. Washington St.

University of Illinois trustees approved $950,000 for the building purchase earlier this summer.

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The Innovation Center is funded by a $15 million state capital contribution through the University of Illinois and the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), a series of university hubs promoting research, innovation and economic development statewide. The UIS center, part of the IIN, is scheduled to open in 2025 and will drive hub focuses in central Illinois.

"I think this will definitely open up new opportunities for that whole footprint right there," said Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder.

The Innovation Center will include Innovate Springfield, UIS’ business incubator, which will double its capacity to help develop new businesses and launch a startup accelerator. Innovate Springfield, which is located on the west side of the Old State Capitol Plaza, supports 81 companies that added more than 280 jobs to the local economy last year.

UIS Chancellor Janet Gooch said there will be maker spaces and experiential labs in the center for entrepreneurs and researchers to come together to develop and test products. There also will be opportunities for students to have hands-on learning experiences, she said.

"This will be a real opportunity to collaborate with some of our social service agencies, philanthropies and other business partners to create some excellent energy," Gooch said.

Bruce Sommer, UIS director of economic development and innovation, said the university was eager to begin the design phase of the new space and start work with industry, government and community partners.

“We are grateful for the UI board of trustees and Illinois taxpayers who have provided their confidence in us and directed us to make this investment in Illinois' future," Sommer added.

Ryan McCrady, the president and CEO of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, said it was "a great moment" for UIS and the downtown community to continue to build ties.

"Obviously, it shows a real commitment to the community by UIS and the University of Illinois System," McCrady said. "Being able to expand the footprint of the innovation activities going on is also very important for the community.

"This will hopefully open the door for other opportunities in the future. I think our community stands to benefit from any investments made downtown, especially by a university."

Meghan Burrell of Miller Mid-America works on a client policy at the Innovate Springfield incubator on Tuesday. Innovate Springfield will move into the University of Illinois Springfield's new Innovation Center at Fourth and Washington streets in 2025.
Meghan Burrell of Miller Mid-America works on a client policy at the Innovate Springfield incubator on Tuesday. Innovate Springfield will move into the University of Illinois Springfield's new Innovation Center at Fourth and Washington streets in 2025.

The UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership also will have space in the building to collaborate with other policy institutes on research and analytical services related to community health, education and career access, environmental protection, and other issues.

The city, Langfelder said, helped fund Innovate Springfield before the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln helped transition it to UIS.

The location of the innovation center is "purposeful," Gooch said, and "it reinforces UIS's commitment to working collaboratively with the city to help us meet some of our community needs.

Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder

"This is a first step (downtown). We certainly need to make the most of this opportunity and then think of what (other) possibilities exist."

The Illinois Sheriffs' Association will remain in the building as a tenant of UIS, said Jim Kaitschuk, the agency's executive director.

UIS was established as Sangamon State University in 1969 and held its first classes at First United Methodist Church at Fifth and Capitol.

Before that, the university began renting its first offices in the Myers Building, in the same block as the new Innovation Center.

The university established a downtown campus at the Leland Building in the 500 block of East Capitol Avenue in February 1972.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: UIS closes on downtown Springfield building for Innovation Center