Although the college quad first became associated with academia on the campuses of Oxford and Cambridge, most of America's great universities are now built around a similar model of surrounding a central space with residence halls and classrooms.

In architecture, a quadrangle - or quad - is a space or courtyard, usually rectangular (square or oblong) in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building or several smaller buildings. At UIUC, there are three quads: the North (Engineering) and South quads and the Main Quad.

There are 15 buildings on or very close to the Main Quad that comprise the main campus of the university. At the head of the Quad is the Union and on the opposite side is Foellinger Auditorium, a concert space and lecture hall that can seat over 1,500 students. Named one of the “14 Most Beautiful and Iconic American College Quads” by Business Insider, this open grassy area is the heart of campus. From playing Frisbee to studying, napping to chatting with friends, the Quad overflows with activity throughout the school year and remains a cherished part of the University of Illinois campus for students and alumni.