The University of Cincinnati College of Law has opened its doors for its new $45.6 million renovation, located in the uptown part of campus.
The new building was under construction for 18 months and has replaced the school’s Linder College of Business. It is designed for 412 law students and 78 faculty and staff members.
“Our new building embodies the college’s orientation toward the future while embracing our storied past,” said Verna Williams, the dean of the college, in a press release. “We’re proud of this facility and invite the UC community to join us in celebrating this new addition to our beautiful campus.”
The new building is six stories, with seminar rooms, private study rooms, and 23 classrooms. It will also feature The Honorable Sandra S. Beckwith Courtroom, which will be used as a primary mock trial courtroom for students. Judge Beckwith is a Cincinnati Law graduate and donated $500,000 towards the project.
The building also received $500,000 from Buck Niehoff to honor the firm where he spent his 40-year law career and coincides with his 50-year class reunion.
Williams will leave her dean position at the school later this month to become CEO of Equal Justice Work, and Michael Whiteman, chief of staff associate dean of library services and director of the law library for the school, has been appointed interim dean of the law school according to the release.
“Our new building with state-of-the-art amenities will allow UC Law to continue to leverage our legal partnership with regional and national companies, law firms and nonprofit organizations that make a difference in our world,” Whiteman said.
The grand opening of the building was on Sept. 13 and classes have already started in the building for the new school year.
