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

Peter W. Rutti, AIA, Associate Principal and Project Director of Westlake Reed Leskosky, has been appointed Director of Design of the Phoenix, Arizona studio of the nationally recognized architects, engineers, and technology designers. The announcement recognizes the design excellence, leadership, and continued growth of the national and international practice of the integrated design firm in the western region.

| Feb 14, 2013

Peter Bardwell named 2013 president of the American College of Healthcare Architects

The Board of Regents of the American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA) has named Peter L. Bardwell, FAIA, FACHA of Columbus, Ohio as 2013 national President.

| Feb 13, 2013

Department store concept by OMA's Koolhaas, Alsaka draws inspiration from open-air Arab marketplaces

The Exhibition Hall, a retail concept planned in Kuwait City's 360° Mall, will meld cultural and commerce spaces in a series of galleries reminiscent of the long passages of the souq—traditional, open-air marketplaces found in Arab cities.

The Great City development near Chengdu will prohibit cars. Courtesy Adrian Smit

| Feb 13, 2013

China plans new car-free city

A new urban development near Chengdu, China, will provide new housing for ~80,000 people, surrounded by green space.

MIT Center for Advanced Urbanism will tackle infrastructure issues.

| Feb 13, 2013

Advanced urbanism is focus of new MIT research center

MIT Center for Advanced Urbanism will seek 21st Century planning solutions, starting with infrastructure design issues.

| Feb 13, 2013

EYP Energy and The Weidt Group merge

A new design for 80 South Street in New York City includes multiple vegetative r

| Feb 13, 2013

'Vegetative tower' apartments to revive NYC site

A Manhattan site formerly slated for development with a "tower of cubes"—a now-defunct project by Santiago Calatrava—will be revived with a 998-foot, 300,000-sf apartment building by Morali Architects.

Ningbo Historic Museum / Wang Shu, Amateur Architecture Studio Iwan Baan

| Feb 13, 2013

Fast Company selects 'most innovative' architecture firms

Business innovation magazine Fast Company has released a list of 10 "most innovative" architectural practices, worldwide.

| Feb 12, 2013

OMA's 'perimeter core' design wins competition for Essence Financial Building in Shenzhen

OMA partners David Gianotten and Rem Koolhaas rethink traditional office tower design with a plan that shifts the building's core to the edge for large, unobstructed plans.

Currently Reading

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

Tags

Smart Buildings | Feb 14, 2013

| Feb 14, 2013

| Feb 14, 2013

| Feb 13, 2013

| Feb 13, 2013

| Feb 13, 2013

| Feb 13, 2013

| Feb 13, 2013

| Feb 13, 2013

| Feb 12, 2013

Most Popular Content

Magazine Subscription

Get our Newsletters

Follow BD+C: