The University of Houston Law Center officially opened its doors to the new John M. O’Quinn Law Building. This is one of the newest law school buildings to open in Texas and in the nation.
“This has been a decades-long dream of alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends who wanted a new building that represented the quality and caliber of the Law Center,” said Dean Leonard M. Baynes in a press release.
The $93 million facility is 180,000 square feet, with five stories. It was designed by the architecture firm Shepley Bulfinch and provides scenic views of the campus and downtown Houston.
The building has a two-story library, courtrooms, research rooms and event spaces. It also offers student amenities, like a meditation room, commuter showers with changing rooms, a student lounge and a convenience store.
“The L-shape for the top three stories, the high ceilings and windows all combine to let in copious amounts of natural light, providing a great ambience for our space,” said Greg Vetter, associate dean, on the distinctive design of the building,
The law school celebrated the opening and the school’s 75th anniversary by organizing a conference Sept. 23 featuring law firms, legal employers, the judiciary and bar association leadership.
