CHAMPAIGN COUNTY (Chambana Today) – The Champaign County government is officially consolidating many of its departments and services under one roof at the newly renovated Scott M. Bennett Administrative Center, located at 204 E. Main Street in downtown Urbana. The county’s newest government facility is the result of a multi-year planning and renovation project aimed at modernizing operations, improving public access, and uniting administrative functions into a central location.
Formerly a commercial building with a bank vault in its lower level, the facility was purchased for $2 million and underwent an extensive transformation. The renovation contract totaled $18,825,000, with an additional 10% contingency of $1,882,500, bringing the project’s total cost to $23,907,500—including $1.2 million in unplanned elevator replacements. Over the 20-year life of the bond used to finance the project, the county will pay $10,316,805.42 in interest. The decision to renovate instead of building new was driven by cost savings and practicality. The Bennett renovation cost approximately $263.41 per square foot, while building new in Champaign-Urbana would cost between $900 and $1,000 per square foot and just under $600 per square foot outside the area.
Constructing a new building for the Sheriff’s Office alone would have cost $20 million, without addressing the broader needs: A new roof, a growing infestation problem in the basement, and concerns of mold in the building.
The design was led by Bailey Edward, while Hutchcraft Moving & Storage managed the logistics of relocating county departments. The building spans 96,000 square feet across five floors plus a lower level, each equipped with break rooms and redesigned office spaces to accommodate around 150 county employees. A standout feature is the expanded Shields-Carter and Jennifer Putman Meeting Rooms, which will host the first County Board meeting in July. These rooms were designed with increased public seating and accessibility in mind.
County Executive Steve Summers said the move symbolizes a new era of efficient and accessible governance. “We are thrilled to have the Champaign County government move together in downtown Urbana. People can access county facilities more easily, and we are mostly under one roof. We’ve created a space that’s more efficient, more accessible, and ultimately better for the people of Champaign County.” He also expressed deep appreciation for the staff who made the transition possible. “I’m incredibly grateful to our county employees for their hard work and flexibility throughout this process. Many of them packed up and moved offices after decades in the same place, and they did it with professionalism, and a focus on serving the public.”
Departments already settled into the new building include the Sheriff’s Office, County Executive’s Office which includes Administrative Services, Facilities, Budget Services, and Information Technology, the GIS Consortium, and the Veteran’s Assistance Commission. The Mental Health and Disabilities Board and the Attorney General’s Office will rent space in the Bennett building. For the first time, all departments of the County Executive’s Office are housed together in the same location.
Still to come are the moves of the Champaign County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds, Treasurer/Collector, and Supervisor of Assessments and Board of Review. These transitions will occur in phases over the coming months. Despite the changes, residents will experience no disruption to voting services or license processing. However, the election drop box and property tax collection boxes will eventually be moved from the Brookens Center to downtown Urbana.
The Brookens Administrative Center, which the county still owns, will remain active as a government site. The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission is under lease there until 2026, and the Children’s Advocacy Center is considering a move to the facility. County Auditor George Danos has chosen to keep his office at Brookens, citing operational needs.
Public access was a top priority in the relocation. The new building is served by several MTD bus routes, providing easy transportation to and from the site. Public parking is available in a deck across the street, along with 20 designated visitor spots on the building’s upper north deck.
County officials emphasized that centralizing services into a single government-owned building is not only more efficient but will save long-term taxpayer money. Owning the building eliminates property tax expenses and shifts costs toward bond payments with long-term benefits for operations and infrastructure.
Residents are invited to a public dedication and naming ceremony on Wednesday, July 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. in front of the building. The event will honor the late State Senator Scott M. Bennett, for whom the facility is named, in recognition of his service and dedication to the people of Champaign County.
The move also reflects several administrative improvements initiated under Summers’ leadership. These include converting his office from a part-time fundraising role to a full-time executive function, improving cost controls, and launching initiatives like free gun lock and safe giveaways and broadband expansion through ARPA grants.
Facilities Director Eric Hoene and Relocation Coordinator Michael Mboyo were recognized for their oversight of the complex transition. “I truly couldn’t do my job without the steady support of Michelle Jeff, our Director of Operations,” Summers added. “She’s the backbone of our day-to-day functions and played an essential role in coordinating this move. Her leadership makes all the difference.”
For relocation schedules and department updates, residents can visit www.champaigncountyil.gov or contact the County Executive’s Office at countyexecutive@co.champaign.il.us.