University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Facilities for UVA's law and business schools were designed in the 1970s on what was then a new and remote part of campus. Over time, the law school building was distinguished by its austere interior finishes, front door parking lot, and general impression that it did not dignify the University or the prestige of the school

When the business school moved to a nearby site, the law school acquired the building and challenged Ayers/Saint/Gross to connect the two awkward facilities and create a presence to foster pride and a sense of community. The firm provided programming, master planning, and design services.

The School of Law now has two fully renovated buildings connected by new interior space, gardens, and lawns. Program elements included:

• Expansion of the library
• Renovation of classrooms and offices
• New moot courtrooms, seminar rooms, faculty offices, library reading room, computer labs, interview rooms, and student lounges

Completion: 1997
Size: 245,500 gsf renovation
         30,000 gsf new
Cost: $21 million