As the final phase of the historic State Farm Center renovation, the University of Illinois partnered with Dimensional Innovations to create the Mannie L. Jackson Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame—an immersive experience celebrating more than a century of Fighting Illini basketball while inspiring future student-athletes and engaging generations of fans. Located adjacent to the arena’s main entrance, the approximately 1,500-square-foot exhibit transforms a formerly underutilized space into a dynamic destination that tells the story of Illinois Basketball through the themes of The Game, The Teams, and The Fans. 

Shaw/PPC Design partnered with Dimensional Innovations and Grunloh Construction to engineer, manufacture, and install many of the project’s signature architectural display elements. Our scope included the fabrication of custom museum-quality display cases, illuminated portal signage, and a large interactive touchscreen display that allows visitors to explore player statistics, historic video, and memorable moments from Fighting Illini basketball history. 

Every feature was engineered to balance aesthetics, durability, and long-term flexibility within a high-traffic collegiate athletics environment. The custom display cases were designed to showcase championship memorabilia, uniforms, trophies, and archival artifacts while allowing exhibits to evolve as new milestones are added to the University’s rich basketball legacy. Integrated illuminated architectural signage creates a dramatic arrival experience, while interactive technology encourages fans to engage with the program’s history in a meaningful and memorable way. 

Leveraging our in-house capabilities in precision metal fabrication, custom millwork, CNC machining, acrylic fabrication, large-format graphics, lighting integration, and final installation, Shaw/PPC Design delivered museum-quality architectural features that seamlessly integrated into Dimensional Innovations’ award-winning experience design. The result is an immersive Hall of Fame environment that celebrates the tradition, passion, and excellence of Illinois Basketball while enhancing the overall fan experience within one of college basketball’s most iconic venues.