Metal Shop
Also known as: Aeronautical Lab "B"
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana, this one-story brick building was first the Metal Shop and is now called Aeronautical Lab "B". Nathan C. Ricker, an architect, educator and Dean of the College of Engineering, designed it after the older shop space in the Mechanical Building became too small for the growing number of students. Ricker requested funds for a new facility, and the request was granted. The building measures 30 by 170 feet, with a double T-shaped plan, a hipped roof, common-bond brick walls and a limestone water table. Its design is utilitarian and the only Ricker structure on campus without historical references. Large windows and minimal ornament recall factory buildings of the period. The one decorative feature is the entrance loggia of three intersecting brick arches facing Burrill Avenue. Steel trusses span the full width, allowing machinery to be placed flexibly. The building is valued as an expression of Ricker's practical approach to teaching.
Significance in brief: The building is significant for its association with Nathan Ricker as an architect, educator and Dean of the College of Engineering. It is also significant as a modern industrial structure. Its plain, factory-like design reflects the functional and practical side of Ricker's teaching.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86003141, listed November 19, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 102 S. Burrill Ave., Urbana |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | November 19, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003141 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Nathan Clifford Ricker |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.11186, -88.22694 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86003141.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20709475
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.