IMEG provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and energy modeling engineering design and services, along with construction administration, for the new, LEED Gold certified Siebel Center for Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The two-story building is a campus-wide hub for student-focused design thinking and learning connecting the north and south areas of campus to support instruction and research in undergraduate and graduate programs across multiple disciplines. The center helps colleges incorporate design principles, concepts and practices into their own degree programs, and brings students, faculty and external stakeholders from many fields together to solve real-world challenges.

The state-of-the-art center features five team-based collaboration studios for up to 100 students, including one studio for large-scale construction and graded access for full-sized prototypes. The building houses flexible, collaborative design studios, makerspaces with 3D printing, metal fabrication, laser cutting and computer-controlled machining, digital media studios, common spaces, and meeting rooms. Its design is intended to break down the barriers encountered in more traditional learning environments, thereby fostering an atmosphere that supports interdisciplinary, experience-based learning.

HVAC design features chilled beams for space heating/cooling for the lower level and displacement ventilation utilizing an in-floor air supply system for the main level. Electrical included a 15 KV medium voltage feed from a new circuit breaker in existing distribution center #9 through new and existing ductlines and manholes to a new pad mounted transformer that provides service to the building.