May 15, 2003
Law School Begins New Phase of Growth
By Greg
Licamele
Tom Morrison likens the Law School to a small city, bustling with activity,
growth, and renovation. As in most cities, careful planning and strong
leadership lead to stunning results.
With $25 million worth of renovations and a plan for full use by summer
2005, the school has entered one of the critical phases of its four-year
plan — the renovation of Stuart Hall.
Vacated by the Elliott School of International Affairs earlier this
year, Stuart Hall will contain 42,000 square feet of the Law School’s
building portfolio of 350,000 square feet. Included in this phase are
nine classrooms, a research and writing computer laboratory, faculty
offices, and administrative space.
The Stuart Hall (and parts of Lisner Hall) renovations, scheduled for
completion in August, follow an aggressive construction plan that began
in 2000. The first phases revitalized classrooms with the wonders of
technology. Soon after, renovation was completed on an historic townhouse
at 700 20th St., adding a unique corner building to help unify the school
and bring the administration together in a central location.
“Before these renovations, I would say our Law School ranked at
the lower end of the square-foot-per-student scale of accredited law
schools in the country,” says Morrison, associate dean for administrative
affairs. “As we complete this phase (Stuart Hall), we will rank
very favorably within the group of our competitive law schools, particularly
for student and faculty space.”
By moving the records office from the first floor of Stockton Hall to
Stuart Hall, the construction dominoes will fall again, as renovations
in Stockton are slated to begin this summer. All partition walls in
the first floor will be removed to allow light to flow in from windows
on both sides of the building. Morrison says lounges, restrooms, and
pantries will be added.
In an effort to unite the Law School complex, which consists of Lerner,
Stockton, and Stuart halls, the Jacob Burns Library, and the corner
townhouse, a streetscape plan will be implemented.
“The Law School streetscape project addresses elements identified
in the University’s streetscape plan,” says Michelle Honey,
GW’s director of architecture, engineering, and construction “The
project reinforces place-making with the addition of the pre-cast entry
and metal railing and fencing that enhances the Law School’s image,
strengthens the University’s identity, and provides orientation
to prospective students, visitors, and passersby. The streetscape theme
is repeated with the use of brick retaining walls, pre-cast caps, granite
bases at entry piers, street trees, raised landscape beds, brick and
masonry ramps, and stairs.”
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
