New Kansas Law School Building Honors Late Senator

By Eric Althoff

TOPEKA, Kan.—Personnel from Washburn University recently cut the ceremonial ribbon officially opening its law school’s new Robert J. Dole Hall, named in honor of the late senator, presidential candidate and World War II veteran. The senator’s daughter, Robin Dole, was on hand along with alumni, administrators and construction personnel.

Robert J. Dole Hall, designed by Topeka’s own MCP Group and built by Stantec of Detroit, offers 65,000 square feet of legal education space. The new building features an 11,000-square-foot law library as well as educational trial and appellate courtrooms. The building also has a mural paying homage to the Washburn alumni who argued Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court, which ended segregation in public schooling. Dole’s likeness is also featured in the law school building’s courtyard.

Over 1,000 donors collectively contributed $14 million to the building, the largest capital project in the history of the university.

“Today, as we open this building, we celebrate not only our strong legacy, but the future for Washburn Law and the potential this new building creates for the legal community,” said JuliAnn Mazachek, president of Washburn University.

“The new law school is a state-of-the-art learning environment that will provide a cooperative and collaborative space for students to pursue their legal education,” added Jeffrey Jackson, interim dean of Washburn Law.

Washburn University School of Law, founded in 1903 with 41 students, now boasts 7,000 alumni—including Dole.