Designing Spaces: Planning the Physical Space for a Legal Writing Program
14 Pages Posted: 23 Aug 2014
Date Written: August 2014
Abstract
Very little has been written about designing new law school buildings or renovating existing law school buildings. There are a handful of articles about the process of building a new law school, or about a dean’s legacy being reflected in a building. Other articles have been written about designing law school libraries, and about building law libraries for other patrons. Law school rankings often reflect student satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the school’s physical plant. But almost nothing has been published about creating spaces for skills-based programs such as clinics7 and writing programs, despite the special considerations that apply to those parts of the law school’s educational program. This article describes what went into the renovation of existing space within the Duquesne University School of Law to accommodate a new legal research and writing program and offers suggestions to others who may be embarking on a similar endeavor.
Keywords: legal research and writing, law school buildings, design process, facilities, LRW, offices, faculty, adjuncts, status, space requirements, planning, interior design, student conferences, furnishings, architecture, higher education learning environments, multipurpose spaces, common areas
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