 Springer Cultural Center
Location: 301 North Randolph St.
Phone: 217-398-2376
Fax: 217-359-9428
Bus
Line: All except Silver, Gold, and Orchard Downs
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.
Located in the heart of downtown Champaign,
the Springer Cultural Center offers cultural, recreational,
and educational programs for all ages as well as workshops,
lectures, exhibits, and performances.
Constructed
as a post office in 1904 and listed on the National Register
of Historic Places in 1975, the architectural design represents
the Renaissance Revival style with its aesthetics emphasizing
simplicity and order. The stately Springer Cultural Center
provides the perfect setting for parties, meetings, conferences,
luncheons, demonstrations, and receptions.
The
Springer Cultural Center and its programs are partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a STATE agency.
Community
Outreach
Champaign
County Cultural Consortium
Founded in 1996, the Champaign County Cultural Consortium
is sponsored by the Champaign Park District and housed at
the Springer Cultural Center. The Consortium fosters communication
and collaboration among cultural resource providers, promotes
the arts as an educational tool, provides access to arts
experiences for all students and educators and supports
educational resources which strengthen cultural diversity
in Champaign County Schools.
The
Consortium produces an annual Resource Guide which features
educational programs offered by over 40 cultural resource
providers and is available to every educator in Champaign
County. Through its partnership program with the Champaign-Urbana
Schools Foundation, the Consortium hosts TeacherLink, an
annual network forum for the community and public schools.
The Consortium received an Outstanding Service Award from
the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education in March 2000.
Rentals
The Springer Cultural Center provides the perfect setting
for parties, meetings, conferences, luncheons, demonstrations
and receptions. Please call 217-398-2376 for rental information
or to schedule your event.
Building
History:
(source material from: Historic Structures
Report by Melvyn Green & Associates Inc. July 1987)
- The site located at the northwest corner of Church and Randolph
was purchased for $27,000 in 1902.
- Drawings were prepared in the office of James Knox Taylor,
supervising architect of the U.S. Treasury. The final selected
design was in the Second Renaissance Revival Style.
- Construction began in October of 1904. The contractor was
George Weber, and the masonry work was from Excelsior Terra
Cotta Company.
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975
- Building was renamed for William L. Springer in 1978. Mr.
Springer served as a United States Congressman from 1951-1973,
Federal Power Commissioner 1973-1975, and Federal Election
Commissioner 1976-1979.
- On October 4, 1990 the building was declared surplus by
the U.S. Government and no longer used for office space.
- On November 21, 1990 the Champaign Park District submitted
an application for acquiring the surplus building.
- Building deeded to the Champaign Park District on May 21,
1991
- After extensive remodeling and upgrades to the interior,
the building was dedicated as the Springer Recreation Center
on September 19, 1992.
- Renamed the Springer Cultural Center on December 12, 1996.
CLICK
HERE to download a PDF copy of the Champaign Park District Facilities/Parks/Trails map.
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