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Higgins Hall construction circa 1967
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Higgins & Thompson
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Higgins Hall Celebration & Implosion

May 22, 2017

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MACOMB, IL -- Join your floormates, friends and the Western Illinois University community as we celebrate the memories of WIU's Higgins Hall. The 50-year-old residence hall will be imploded at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 1. An alumni dinner and social will be held Friday, June 30.

Tens of thousands of WIU students, along with countless numbers of housing staff, called Higgins Hall -- the tallest building on campus -- home from 1967 to Spring 2013.

"Higgins was the first place I lived after moving out. It provided a home for me, something much more than just a college dorm," posted Kris Buckman on the Higgins Celebration Facebook page. "I went to college just a little later in life, so I was a tad worried I wouldn't fit in and get to know people. I was wrong. Higgins provided some friendships I still hold dear. I wouldn't trade these people or memories for anything. I am truly a Leatherneck for life."

To celebrate the good times and bid a fond farewell to Higgins, a BBQ will be held on the Thompson Hall lawn beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, June 30 for alumni and friends. Immediately following, a Student Services Social will be held from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Sports Corner@124 in downtown Macomb. Former Student Services employees are invited to attend. Reunion registration details can be found at wiu.edu/higgins.

Beginning at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, July 1, a celebration tailgate will be held in the designated viewing area, with the implosion set to occur at 9 a.m. The viewing area map can be found at http://bit.ly/2r9nC8l.

Individuals interested in purchasing a "piece" of Higgins such as room number signage and plaques/trophies, with proceeds going to UHDS, can visit wiu.edu/higgins.

"I lived in Higgins Hall on floor seven from 2001 until I graduated December 2003. In 2001, I did the t-shirt for homecoming and it was the very first T-shirt I ever designed," posted Abigail Kerrn Dudek. "I met some great people living in Higgins. Both my aunts lived in Higgins in the 70s and 80s and I carried the torch .... thanks for the memories, big H!"

Following the implosion, University Housing and Dining Services staff will hold guided walking tours from 9:30-10:30 a.m. of WIU's residence halls [note: access to Thompson Hall may be restricted July 1 due to implosion staging].

Angela Gates posted, "I met my husband of 10 years at Higgins. Several of our couple friends (many now also married) met at Higgins. We started our futures in that building in so many ways."

Construction began on the $7.3 million 20-story Higgins Hall, a residence hall for women, in Fall 1966. Higgins, which was built on the seventh hole of the old golf course, opened in Fall 1967. The hall officially went off-line in May 2013.

According to Joe Roselieb, director of residential facilities, to bring Higgins to a "like-new" facility would cost approximately $48 million. Roselieb added that an estimated $1 million in operating costs will be eliminated by the demolition of the building. Once the building material is removed from the site, the area north of the parking lot will be green space. There are currently no plans to develop the site. The Higgins Hall demolition is part of the University Housing and Dining Services master plan. The master plan can be found at wiu.edu/student_services/uhds/about/masterplan.php.

For more information about the Higgins celebration, contact Joe Roselieb at JA-Roselieb@wiu.edu or(309) 298-3320 or post at https://www.facebook.com/events/456490644695099.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing