THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR COLISEUM, HOME TO HORSE SHOWS AND OTHER EVENTS, IS BACK IN BUSINESS.

THE 60 THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT, THREE STORY STRUCTURE WAS BUILT IN 1901 AND AFTER YEARS OF REPAIRS, WAS CONDEMNED IN 2016. STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DEPUTY DIRECTOR WARREN GOESCH SAYS THE LATEST RENOVATION OF THE FACILITY RESTORES WHAT HE CALLS THE “CROWN JEWEL” OF THE FAIR.

AFTER EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS…THE BUILDING IS NOW MORE A-D-A ACCESSIBLE AND HAS L-E-D LIGHTING, ENERGY EFFICIENCY WINDOWS AND LARGE CEILING FANS. THE WOOD BEAMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND REINFORCED WITH STEEL. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR JOHN SULLIVAN SAYS THIS IS TRULY A RETURN TO THE FACILITY’S FORMER GLORY.

A SECOND PHASE OF THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDING A HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM TO MAKE IT MORE OF A YEAR-ROUND FACILITY.