Schools

GSU Breaks Ground on New Law School Building

The estimated $82.5 million project will include a conference center, a 230-seat ceremonial courtroom, areas for clinical practice and community outreach and an International Arbitration Center.

By Jessica Hayslett


DOWNTOWN - The chancellor of the University System of Georgia, members of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Georgia General Assembly, and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed along with Georgia State University officials, alumni, friends and students and McCarthy Building Companies Inc. on Thursday commemorated the groundbreaking for the new law building one block east of Peachtree Street on John Wesley Dobbs.

The downtown Atlanta building is the university’s first dedicated facility for legal education.

The 200,000-square-foot space includes a conference center, a 230-seat ceremonial courtroom, areas for clinical practice and community outreach and an International Arbitration Center. The Law Library will occupy the top two floors and offer flexible learning space for individuals, groups, classes and guests, as well as a formal reading room, a café and outdoor terraces. 

“We’re honored to be part of Georgia State University’s team in providing a modern, sustainable law school that will not only allow them to train the best legal scholars in a great new environment, but also adds to the transformation of downtown Atlanta,” said McCarthy’s Southeast Division President Kevin Kuntz.  

“We are excited to have this project underway,” said Mark Becker, president of Georgia State. “The showplace building will shine a spotlight on our nationally recognized law program and will enhance its already strong experiential learning component dedicated to producing graduates who can contribute to the profession from day one.”

The estimated $82.5 million project, including about $60 million in building costs, will seek LEED Silver certification and features numerous sustainable elements, including a green roof complete with vegetation and trees to both improve air quality and provide a unique downtown aesthetic. 

Inside finishes include high-end wood paneling on walls and ceilings and terrazzo flooring. Outside, zinc metal panels and coping will connect windows for an ultra modern finish.

Throughout the project, McCarthy will work closely with adjacent property owners, Georgia State students and university officials to ensure a safe and productive workplace during construction. The project will be complete and ready for fall 2015 classes.

See building rendering at building.law.gsu.edu

Follow project progress on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gsulawconstruction or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/gsulawconstruct

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