First look: University of Utah's ‘teaching hospital for law’

The University of Utah broke ground today on its cutting-edge College of Law building, which will facilitate new approaches to legal education based on more hands-on learning and skills training.

“With this new building, the College of Law will advance its mission to establish a ‘teaching hospital for law’-- an innovative vision for the future of legal education,” said University of Utah President David W. Pershing. “Expanded and improved facilities will enable a variety of educational tracks aimed at improving the human condition, including global justice and the evolving field of biolaw.”

Designed by VCBO Architecture (architect of record) and SmithGroupJJR (design architect), the facility will feature a library integrated throughout the building, state-of-the-art training facilities, spaces for collaborative research, advanced but flexible learning technology, practice courtrooms and a top-floor conference center. By providing a wide array of flexible spaces for small group training, the building efficiently provides more space-per-student, bringing it in line with peer institutions.

All images © VCBO/SMITHGROUP JJR Architecture and the College of Law

“This building will fulfill the educational needs of tomorrow’s lawyers while serving the broader Utah legal community and the community at large,” said Bob Adler, interim dean of the S. J. Quinney College of Law. “We are committed to using the facility in ways that will better prepare skilled attorneys and problem-solving leaders.”

The College of Law faculty plans to use the new building to expand its already substantial commitment to community service and community-engaged learning. University of Utah law students provided almost 50,000 hours of volunteer pro bono and clinical service during the 2012-13 academic year. The new building will enable the school to continue this tradition by providing facilities for direct client interaction.

The new building is designed to achieve LEED platinum certification, the highest designation using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards and will provide accessibility for a full range of disabilities. Located at the southwest corner of campus across from the Stadium TRAX station, the building will establish a welcoming gateway for visitors to the campus.

To date, the building has received generous support from the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation, the University of Utah, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Alternative Visions Fund of the Chicago Community Trust as well as a growing number of law firms and individual donors.

The $4.5 million donation from the Alternative Visions Fund is dedicated specifically to taking the facility’s sustainable features to the next level. Among the attributes made possible through this donation are an innovative cooling system using groundwater from near the building site, recycling and reuse of building grey water to flush toilets and for other non-potable uses, on-site and off-site solar power generation, electric car charging stations and more.

Big-D Construction will begin work on the new, 155,000-square-foot building on June 17, and the building is expected to be ready for the 2015-16 academic year.

All plans courtesy VCBO Architecture

Just for the sake of argument, let’s put aside the rhetoric about climate change—whether it’s actually happening, whether it’s a result of manmade activity—and agree that we are experiencing some pretty dramatic weather events that are having huge impacts on populations here in the U.S. and worldwide.

The city of Buffalo hired a team of professionals to execute assessments for mor

Smart Buildings | Jun 8, 2014

Big Data: How one city took control of its facility assets with data

Over the past few years, Buffalo has developed a cutting-edge facility management program to ensure it's utilizing its facilities and operations as efficiently, effectively, and sustainably as possible.

| Jun 6, 2014

Must see: Can a floating city offset urban population growth in China?

AT Design Office has proposed a design for a floating city to offset increasing urban populations in China. To create the new city, a 10-square kilometer island would be made out of prefab blocks.

| Jun 6, 2014

KPF, Kevin Roche unveil design for 51-story Hudson Yards tower in NYC [slideshow]

Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group are teaming to develop Fifty Five Hudson Yards, the latest addition to the commercial office tower collection in the 28-acre Hudson Yards development—the largest private real estate development in the history of the U.S.

| Jun 6, 2014

Shipping container ship terminal completed in Spain

In Seville, Spain, architectural firms Hombre de Piedra and Buró4 have designed and completed a cruise ship terminal out of used shipping containers.

The city of Santa Monica, Calif.'s Parking Structure 6 won for Best Design of a

| Jun 5, 2014

International Parking Institute names best new parking structures

Winners include garages that are architectural delights, an airport's canopied parking atrium, and an environmentally friendly garage under America's oldest park.

An example of emerging "live, work, play" strategy is the development of residen

| Jun 4, 2014

Emerging trends in healthcare development: neighborhood care, mixed-use models on the rise

In urban and even suburban markets, real estate is about the "live, work, play," with close proximity to mass transit and other amenities, like retail stores. Healthcare organizations are following suit.

Waterfront view including the competition site from the Market Square, looking s

| Jun 4, 2014

Want to design a Guggenheim? Foundation launches open competition for proposed Helsinki museum

This is the first time the Guggenheim Foundation has sought a design through an open competition. Anonymous submissions for stage one of the competition are due September 10, 2014.

Currently Reading

First look: University of Utah's ‘teaching hospital for law’

Tags

| Jun 9, 2014

| Jun 9, 2014

| Jun 8, 2014

Smart Buildings | Jun 8, 2014

| Jun 6, 2014

| Jun 6, 2014

| Jun 6, 2014

| Jun 5, 2014

| Jun 4, 2014

| Jun 4, 2014

Most Popular Content

Magazine Subscription

Get our Newsletters

Follow BD+C: