Urbana High School's current building was built in 1914. It was designed by architect Joseph Royer who also designed many other buildings in the area including the Urbana Free Library and the Champaign CountyCourt House. The architecture of Urbana High School is of the Tudor style, defined primarily by the towers over the main entrance and the flattened point arches over the doors. An addition was built in 1916 which included a gymnasium and swimming pool. Due to increasing enrollment, further additions were built in 1955 and 1965. In 1988, an enclosed athletic area was added while the old gymnasium/pool wing was converted into classrooms. The entire building was also renovated to meet safety codes. During the renovation, areas that had been sealed off during previous construction revealed graffiti dating back to around the 1950s. The Urbana Park District Indoor Aquatic Center was built in 2003. Being adjoined to Urbana High School, it brings the building to its current state. Beginning in 2011, the Urbana School District #116 began construction on several projects to update the older facilities. The school demolished its football and soccer fields in the spring of 2011 and combined them into a new state-of-the-art football/soccer field with artificial turf and several bleachers. It was called the Urbana Tigers Athletic Complex and the project cost an estimated $4.3 million. Cobb Memorial Auditorium underwent a complete renovation in 2012 which restored and reincorporated the historical features of its earlier design. Its estimated cost was $4.6 million. Additional improvements to the facilities were finalized at the end of 2012.
Kristina Olson Psychologist. Known for her research on the development of social categories, transgender youth, and variation in human gender development.
Mark Roberts Actor, screenwriter & comedian. Best known for producing and writing for the TV seriesTwo and a Half Men and Mike and Molly.
Joseph Royer Architect. Designed the 1914 section of the current UHS building, the Urbana Free Library, the Champaign County Court House, and many schools across Illinois and Iowa.
Alexander D. Shimkin Journalist. Was killed in the Vietnam War in 1972 while reporting for Newsweek. Notable for his investigation of Operation Speedy Express.
James Wilson DJ and author. More commonly known as Chef Ra, was senior class president in 1969 and later became a reggae DJ for WEFT and a columnist for High Times.
Notable faculty
J.C. Caroline, a former NFL player for the Chicago Bears, taught physical education at Urbana and was the head football coach for four seasons.
Charles Carpenter, a highly decorated Second World War artillery observation pilot nicknamed "Bazooka Charlie"; destroyed several German armored vehicles in his bazooka-equipped Piper L-4 Cub/Grasshopper light observation aircraft, christened Rosie the Rocketeer. Carpenter became seriously ill and he returned to work as a history teacher at Urbana High School until his death in 1966 at the age of 53.
Timothy V. Johnson was a former Illinois legislator.
