Touro College Law Center

Narratives

Architect Narrative

This University Law Center is a concept for unprecedented interaction between a law school, the judiciary, and agencies at all levels of government.
It will serve as a national model seeking to bridge the gap between the theory and the practice of law in America.

The project envisions the relocation of this Law Center to the new Federal and State Court Complex in its region. The resulting campus would provide a broad range of unique opportunities to strengthen the criminal justice system, improve legal education for students, enhance federal and state law enforcement agencies and save federal funds.

1. What exemplary ideas does the design contain that enhance learning?

Site proximity and links to neighboring structures will facilitate interaction between the Law School and the Federal and State Court buildings, allowing:

· The Law Center’s research library to become an important resource to nearby federal and state courts and agencies at all levels of government.

· The Law Center to offer a wide range of ongoing education programs for judges, court personnel, and federal and state agency officials. It will set a precedent as the country’s first ‘School for Judges’.

· The facility will be used as a training center for Federal law enforcement personnel. Just as the nearby State and Federal courts will be a “laboratory” for the students.

· The facility will offer important benefits to underserved populations — from legal clinics serving their specific needs to a significant economic stimulus.

This partnership will help address the widespread concern that there is a gap between legal practice and theory. This demonstration project will have a national significance because of its potential to bridge the gap through unprecedented opportunities for collaboration and cross-fertilization between academia and practice.

2. What innovations in the planning, programming and design process supported the realization of those exemplary ideas?

Innovations planned for this project fully support the philosophy of full interaction between the Law School, State and Federal Courts, and the community. This educational and civic interaction demands an architectural response that will unify the complex. This University is the dynamic connecting force that ties the thread between the structures. With a nod to Le Corbusier’s modular geometry, the school will be a horizontal parti with exterior plazas and walkways linking all buildings. Within the law school complex, the architect has designed a Town Square Plaza, a community meeting place to encourage the coming together of this legal community.

On the interior, there are four scaled down courtrooms, complete with judges chambers to allow for student study within a real environment. These

A 350 seat auditorium plus lecture halls with stepped seating allow Touro to present dynamic relevant speakers to the student, legal and community population.

The Law Center also features a 50,000 square foot law library and media center complete with audio visual and computer technology. Open to the student, legal and community populations, the Law Library will be the foremost legal library in the region and serve as a comprehensive research facility to all aspects of the legal community.

Specifically for the community at large is a unique Law Clinic to service the population in need. The Law Clinic will be presided over by students under the supervision of their professors and attorneys at large. Childcare will also be available in conjunction with the Law Clinic.