February 27, 2008

Architecture

University of British Columbia’s new Faculty of Law building meets needs of students

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Construction is expected to get under way in 2009 on a new Faculty of Law building on the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia.

Designed by the Toronto-based firm of Diamond + Schmitt Architects, the 13,500-square-metre facility is intended to meet the needs of a new generation of law students and legal researchers.

Situated adjacent to the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and framing one of two principal gates into the campus, the building will replace the existing school, currently housed in two aging structures.

A 1995 assessment of that building, which opened in 1944, revealed moisture and ventilation problems in addition to outmoded teaching spaces and serious deficiencies in classroom and office accessibility.

The new building provides space for more than 50 faculty members, 600 undergraduate and 100 graduate students.

It includes contemporary classroom designs, more student service spaces, a moot court, a larger law library and new research spaces.

The project is in the early stages of schematic design, a spokesperson said. A decision has not been made on whether a general contractor or construction manager will be retained.

The project budget is $50 million.

“We are delighted to be working with Diamond Schmitt on the design phase of our building project,” said Mary Anne Bobinski, the UBC dean of law.

“The enhanced learning environment envisioned by Diamond Schmitt will help UBC Law to gain broader recognition as one of North America’s top public law schools.

“This building will not only be a vital resource for students, graduates and scholars, but for the people of the province and the Canadian legal profession as a whole.”

The firm of Diamond Schmitt, in joint venture with CEI Architecture Planning Interiors of B.C., was chosen from among four competing design teams including Patkau Architects, Henriquez Partners Architects and Olsen Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects of Seattle with Larry McFarland Architects of Vancouver.

The Law School is the fifth project the University of British Columbia has commissioned Diamond + Schmitt to design.

The design firm’s previous projects include the recently completed Life Sciences Centre.

It is the largest LEED Gold laboratory building in Canada.

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