A History of NIU’s Architectural Evolution

Northern Illinois University’s architectural history began with Altgeld Hall in 1899, a Tudor-Gothic "Castle on the Hill" designed by Charles E. Brush, reflecting Governor John P. Altgeld’s vision for inspiring education spaces. The campus evolved through restrained red-brick buildings like Swen Parson Hall in the early 20th century, shifted to functional modernist designs like Founders Library and Grant Towers in the mid-20th century, and embraced contemporary, student-focused structures by the 2000s. This progression—from ornate Gothic origins to practical and modern expansions—mirrors NIU’s growth from a small normal school to a diverse research university, all tied to DeKalb’s barbed wire legacy.