Illini 411: Were the Main Quad’s sidewalks based on the paths students naturally took?
Question courtesy of Hanna Jin, ’19 LAS
Main Quad (Image by Andy Savage) Question courtesy of Hanna Jin, ’19 LAS
A: The simple answer is no. According to the U. of I.’s Facilities & Services, the sidewalks were well-planned and reinforce the formal geometry of the Quad. (If the sidewalks had followed students’ natural paths, they likely would have connected the main entries of buildings.) So, the next time you feel like traipsing across the grass, remember that a lot of thought has gone into those sidewalks!
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