Illinois College's new green residence hall was awarded LEED Silver Certification and it is among the first structures in downstate Illinois to achieve this award and the first college or university in downstate Illinois to acieve LEED Silver certification.

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation provided a $100,000 grant that helped Illinois College pursue and qualify for the LEED Silver status. Only nine other college residence halls in the U.S. has achieved LEED Silver Certification.

The Illinois College residence hall opened in September 2006 and accomodates 200 students. It was designed to reduce standard energy consumption by 27 percent through measures that include double-pane, thermally improved windows, efficient wall and roof installation, a lighting system that utilizes low-watt fluorescent lamps and along with the use of occupancy sensors. The residence hall also has low-flow and low-flush sink and toilet fixtures, heating and cooling systems with high-effefiency rooftop units; and a control system that reduces HVAC energy consumption.