The University of Richmond has completed a $27.5 million multi-year renovation of the Richmond School of Law, transforming the law school building into a modern, inviting environment that better meets the needs of the Richmond Law community.
Wendy Perdue, dean of Richmond Law, said in addition to upgraded lighting and other features of study areas, the project added more group-study areas to the building to bring it more in line with student study habits.
“We wanted the space to reflect how our students work these days. We needed more space that was group focused. Students like to study together,” she said.
The project also involved the construction of new office space, so that the law school’s entire faculty can work out of the same building. Space also was created for the law school’s clinics, which were being held elsewhere on campus.
Also project included improvements to the school’s moot courtroom and additional study space was added to the school’s library, as was a “green roof,” a 700-square-foot layer of succulents on the top of the building intended to reduce energy needs and rainwater runoff.
An open town square was created to serve as the community hub for the building, offering a space for students, faculty and staff to relax and interact.
Discussions about how to maximize the use of the 110,000-square-foot law school building started around 2018 or 2019, when it was determined the HVAC system needed to be replaced, Perdue said.
“Most of our 420 law students commute to our campus and spend their entire day, day after day, in the law school,” Perdue said. “We are delighted to have created a space that is more inviting, pleasant and accommodating for not only our students but our faculty, staff and visitors.”
The project began in the winter of 2020-2021 and was completed in phases and the project was completed the week before the fall 2024 semester began.
The building remained open during the project, which didn’t expand the school’s footprint.
“There has been a noticeable energy change when you walk through the building,” said Perdue. “People are engaging in our central gathering space. People are studying in the way that best suits their needs. Our space is now consistent with being a community and connecting and caring for each other.”
The last major project at the law school was an expansion completed in the early 1990s, which added to the building the moot court room, a wing of the library and two classrooms.
