Urbana-Lincoln Hotel-Lincoln Square Mall

Downtown Urbana's Lincoln Square complex joins two buildings from different eras. The Urbana-Lincoln Hotel, built in 1923 to a design by local architect Joseph Royer, is a four-and-one-half-story Tudor Revival building of dark brick with stucco, half-timbering, a recessed arched entrance and loggia, and a steeply pitched roof with dormers. In 1964 the adjoining Lincoln Square Mall was added from plans by nationally known architect and planner Victor Gruen. Its one- and two-story modern form has light brown brick walls, a steel frame, and entrances on each side oriented to major streets. Nine square blocks of commercial and residential property were cleared for the project, which also included city-owned parking lots planned by Gruen. Although storefronts, cornices and entrances have been altered over time, Gruen's interior plan remains intact. The mall served shopping, civic and cultural purposes and was part of a broader downtown renewal vision. The hotel and mall together are recognized as one contributing building, with the parking lots as a contributing structure.