The School of Law is partnering with the University of Miami School of Business Administration to construct a new learning facility near the Lowe Art Museum on the east side of campus, Dean White announced yesterday to the Res Ipsa.
The building will provide new space for l
aw school classes and programs, in conjunction with the school’s now existing facilities.
“It should add really beautiful additional space to expand the Law School campus and integrate us more into the university,” said Dean of the School of Law, Patricia White.
Designed by the renowned Michael Graves & Associates architecture firm, the planned six-story building will include a courtroom, additional space for programs and at least one classroom. The building is expected to be ready for occupancy by Fall 2011, allowing current first-year students the opportunity to use the facility.
White hopes the new building will further integrate the school of law into Miami’s campus.
“We want it to be case where people naturally and happily walk between the two campuses,” said White. “We want to take better advantage of this beautiful campus.”
Importantly, White hopes the current student population will have an integral role in the development of the facility.
“We’re going to be interested in the experiences and ideas that all the students [here] have as to what will make sense [for use of the building], and how we can retain our sense of identity and community on the one hand, and become more integrated into the university on another,” said White.
The building will be named after its donor, the Miguel Fernandez Family Foundation. Originally intended as an Executive Education School for the Business Graduate Program, last fall’s recession put the construction plans in a holding pattern.
In need of further space to expand its programs, the Law School jumped at the opportunity to partner with its fellow graduate school. The result is a “win-win” situation for both branches of higher learning.
“It gives us a big space sooner in a terrific place on campus,” said White. “And, it will gives us a change to engage in various partnerships on the campus.”
The Law School footed the bill by drawing from funds already secured for the construction of its own, independent, facility. While the plans for this building are still in the works, White says this project won’t place additional costs on the student population.
“This is money we have put aside for the new building ultimately, so [the project] is going to be taking money that we’ve already put aside,” said White.
Above all, Dean White is “very optimistic” the partnership will happen. She encourages students to “[provide] feedback, and take advantage of this opportunity to make our campus more beautiful, but really innovate in its approach to the design of the law school.”
All upper-level law students are encouraged to voice their concerns during an open meeting with the Dean, October 22, in room F209.
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