Nick Holonyak, Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Lab (HMNTL)
08. Nick Holonyak, Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Lab (HMNTL)
The Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Lab (HMNTL) has some of the largest and most sophisticated university-based facilities for semiconductor, nanotechnology and biotechnology research. The lab contains more than 8,000 square feet of clean room labs ranging from class 100 to class 1,000. There is only one entrance because of the extensive cleaning process necessary before entering the labs.
Professor Nick Holonyak Jr. (1963-2022), the building’s namesake, invented the first practical LED in 1962. He was a professor at the university from 1963 until he retired in 2013, and he maintained an office in HMNTL until his death.
Historical Note
An Illinois alumnus, Jack Kilby, developed the first integrated circuit in 1958 while working for Texas Instruments, Inc. In 2000, Kilby won the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Artwork
“The Quintessential Engineer:" Sakshi Srivastava, then an undergraduate student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, wanted to encourage and inspire future female students through public art representing women engineers. She began a four-year campaign, which culminated in the unveiling of “The Quintessential Engineer” created by sculptor Julie Rotblatt-Amrany with the financial support of Texas Instruments, Inc.
“The face, the expression is one of wonder, exploration and knowledge, one of curiosity and perseverance,” the artist told the Daily Illini at the unveiling in 2017. “…She represents a multi-racial female, a young professional at work…always thinking, on the move.”
The granite hexagons comprising the base of the statue, known as Quinn, represent a form found in the natural world. The top hexagon becomes circuit board, then books and then melds into the hem of Quinn’s plants. The future is represented in the flexible tablet screen.
Upwells: The sculpture titled Upwells is found in the courtyard to the east of HMNTL. Essentially a large sundial, Upwells is comprised of the upright shaft, known as a gnomon, and the dome shaped fountains, which are solstice and equinox markers. Created by artist Stephen Luecking, the bronze and granite centerpiece aligns with the north-south axis of the Urbana campus.
On a clear evening, the gnomon may also be used to locate the north star. Look through the tube in bronze ball (south of the gnomon) and the star will appear to light up the tip of the spire.
Email grainger-marcom@illinois.edu with questions or feedback.