Almost two years after construction began, Georgia State’s new law building is scheduled to open for classes by fall of 2015.
The building will have a variety of features available to students and faculty including a welcome area, community conference center and state-of-the-art technology in classrooms and courtrooms. Student workspaces, in the form of a library and meeting spaces, will also be offered, according to the project’s website.
Chip Hill, assistant dean of finance and administration at the College of Law, said the building will represent the caliber of Georgia State’s law program.
“The new building reflects the excellent quality of legal education available at Georgia State Law. One of the main goals of the building design was to provide space that can be used to showcase our research centers, clinics and faculty scholarship,” he said.
Hill also said the new building will not only benefit students but also Georgia State’s international image.
“Going forward, we will be able to host conferences, events and programs that will attract the leading minds in both legal education and practice,” he said. “Additionally, part of the building will be dedicated to hosting international arbitration and mediation proceedings. In addition to providing wonderful learning opportunities for our students, our hope is that these types of programs will increase our visibility around the globe.”
The building was paid for by the State of Georgia as well as donations secured by the university, according to Hill.
“The State of Georgia has provided $70 million in funding. The college and university have worked to secure the additional $12.5 million in donations so that all of the expenses associated with the design, construction and furnishings are fully covered,” he said.
Associate professor of law Ellen Taylor said she thinks the new building will have a positive effect on attracting potential students.
“I think potential students will think the school is a more attractive option with a state-of-the-art building. We will have more room to house legal clinics and conferences, so we will be able to provide more opportunities to our law students, to the Georgia State community and to the larger legal community,” she said.
Cassady Brewer, assistant professor of law, said the building will add to the College of Law’s reputation.
“It will impress potential students, potential faculty, members of the Bar and members of the public. Georgia State’s College of Law has never had its own building. Virtually all law schools across the country have their own buildings. Georgia State’s College of Law has built a great reputation without having its own building. Imagine what Georgia State’s College of Law can accomplish now,” he said.
Georgia State student Noah Nelson said he thinks the new building will not only benefit the College of Law but also the university as a whole.
“I believe as a whole, people will see GSU as a school striving to improve,” Nelson said. “We have made constant improvements each year to better education for us students and it has shown every time. Students in the program will be better prepared for the real world with more resources and more leaders will come out of our campus.”
