Construction Begins on ASU’s New Law School

PHOENIX — Construction started in early July on Arizona State University’s new law school in downtown Phoenix. When completed, the $129 million Arizona Center for Law and Society will house the university’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. It will stand six stories tall and be housed at Second and Taylor streets.
The university funded most of the project; however, the city of Phoenix, which is providing land and $12 million, as well as private donations will make up additional funding.
The law school is currently situated on the Tempe campus in a building that was originally built in the 1960s. The building’s less than 150,000 square feet of space require employees to be spread out across six other buildings on campus. The new building, however, will be almost 275,000 square feet, allowing for staff and faculty to all work in the same place. Plus, its close proximity to courts and the legal community will benefit students.
The law school will join other schools at ASU’s already expanding Phoenix campus. More than 11,000 students currently take classes at ASU’s downtown Phoenix campus, which includes the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the College of Health Solutions, the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, the College of Public Programs and the School of Letters and Sciences. The campus also has a residence hall, Taylor Place.
The building’s exterior will be made out of Arizona sandstone and glass. The school will occupy about two-thirds of the space, while a restaurant, university bookstore and two levels of underground parking will also be housed in the facility, reported The Arizona Republic. The Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, the McCain Institute for International Leadership and the ASU Alumni Law Group — believed to be the first teaching law firm associated with a law school — will also occupy the space.
The building will be designed using several energy-efficient features. Plus, it will be available to the public. The great hall, with seating for 150 to 800, for instance, will be available for public events.
New York-based Ennead Architects unveiled the design plans for the project last year. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2016.