CHICAGO, Aug. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Northeastern Illinois University held a ceremonial groundbreaking today for its new Education Building. The new building is slated to house Northeastern Illinois University's Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education. 

Among its many features, the building will have 24 classrooms, 12 designated conference rooms, and 80 private offices. Designed by SmithGroup, the building will also feature a second-floor roof deck with vegetation and seating, along with a bird-safe design with fritted glass and window film. The University will seek LEED Silver certification for the building when complete, which signifies its strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

"Northeastern Illinois University is proud to break ground on our new Education Building," said Northeastern President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan. "This multi-use, state-of-the-art facility will be the future home of the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education and will feature classrooms, clinics, labs and conference spaces designed to enhance teaching and learning. With a strong legacy of preparing educators for leadership and service, NEIU has long anticipated this milestone. The new Education Building reflects our commitment to modernization and will benefit the entire University community. We are grateful to the State of Illinois for its investment in this facility, which — when it opens in 2027 — will underscore NEIU's dedication to preparing the next generation of educators."

"An investment in future educators is an investment in the future of Illinois," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Providing our universities with the facilities they need to train the next generation of teachers won't just pay off for future educators and their institutions, it will pay off for the classrooms full of students that these talented instructors will go on to inspire every day."

Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam, who represents the 8th District, which includes the University's Main Campus, expressed strong support for the project.

"I am excited to join NEIU for the groundbreaking ceremony of their new Education Building — a pillar of academic excellence and innovation for our community, bringing new opportunities for those seeking a higher education," said Sen. Villivalam. "I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this new building has on our neighbors."

The scope of work provides for constructing a 189,673-square-foot multi-use building to house a centralized education department. The facility will include classroom space, state-of-the-art laboratories, administrative and office space, and 48,735 square feet for general campus use. The total cost of the project is approximately $125.4 million. The Illinois Capital Development Board will oversee the project in accordance with the protocol for state-appropriated construction projects, ensuring that all work meets state standards for quality and safety.

"The Capital Development Board is proud to partner with Northeastern Illinois University on this exciting project," said TJ Edwards, Executive Director of the Illinois Capital Development Board. "This modern Education Building represents a significant investment in our state's future educators, supporting their academic success for years to come."

Northeastern Illinois Univeristy's new Education Building will address the continuing growth, success and pressing needs of the University's students. It will ensure Northeastern can meet the demands for classroom space, support services, education reform initiatives, and more efficient space utilization across campus. And it will enable Northeastern Illinois University to continue educating and inspiring future teachers who reflect the state's classrooms.

"This project has been in the works for over 20 years, and we are thrilled that it is finally coming to fruition," said Northeastern Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs R. Shanye Cofer. "The new building will be a wonderful addition to our Main Campus and will inspire a whole new generation of education majors at Northeastern for years to come."

The addition of a new Education Building at Northeastern Illinois University continues a long and rich educational tradition at the University. NEIU was founded in 1867 as the Cook County Normal School, the county's first teacher training institution. Today, the University is home to four colleges — the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Technology, and College of Graduate Studies and Research — and has graduated more than 85,000 students, many of whom continue to reside and work within Illinois.

"The new home for the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education will be transformational," said Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education Dean Thomas Philion. "By providing state-of-the-art classrooms and study areas for education students, as well as dramatically improved and expanded space for our clinics that serve children and adults in nearby neighborhoods and communities, Northeastern Illinois University will continue to be a regional and state leader in the fields of teacher, counselor, health and leadership education."

About Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs. The Main Campus is located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Founded in 1867, Northeastern is a Minority-Serving Institution and the longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution in the Midwest. The University has additional Chicagoland locations, including the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro, and the University Center of Lake County.

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SOURCE Northeastern Illinois University