The University of Houston wants $ 60 million from the state for help to replace the aging and flood-prone building that houses the law school
UH has already raised $ 10 million in a campaign to build a new and improved law center, and is now looking state support for the second phase of construction, said university president Renu Khator.
A new five-story building will replace the former Bates Law Building, which was built in 1969 and houses the University of Houston Law Center, according to a statement from UH .
Khator said that more than half of the current legal center is underground, which makes it prone to flooding. The building has never fully recovered from the severe flooding of Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and, more recently, hurricanes Ike and Harvey, disabled a large part of its library, according to the statement.
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All institutions have at least one special project they want it to be funded by the State Legislature, Khator said at a meeting with the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board on Monday.
"We are committed to providing the best learning environment for our students and teachers to stimulate success and this includes improving facilities throughout the campus," Khator said in a statement released on the $ 10 million that UH has already raised. "The UH Legal Center continues to be recognized nationally, despite the challenges with its facilities. Just imagine what can be achieved with a modern building equipped with the latest technology. "
Leonard Baynes, dean of the university's law center, reiterated that thought. World class right in a world-class city requires a world-class building, "he said." A new legal center building will transform the learning experience of our students and will also elevate our position in the legal community by better reflecting true excellence. of our teachers, students, students and staff. "
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The initial design of the new law building, which will reside adjacent to the current center of laws, will include modern technology and flexible space for students and teachers, including a new library of laws with electronic sources, facilities for events and courtrooms, and the parliament Style classrooms. There are also plans to organize legal clinics for the community and defense skills labs. The construction is scheduled to begin in 2021.
William Jackson, president of the UH Law Foundation and president of the construction campaign, said in a statement that he hopes the $ 10 million raised will show the legislature that there is broad support for the center of laws , which has been classified in the Top 10 for specialties of the law school, such as health law, intellectual property law and part-time law, according to the latest US News & World Report classifications.
The $ 60 million requested by UH for the law center will be in addition to the other special items of the university for lawmakers, including a request of approximately $ 11.1 million to help support various aspects of the university and $ 20 million for the proposed University of Houston The School of Medicine, which is scheduled to expand university health research and prepare primary care physicians to practice in marginalized and rural communities, including the Third District where find the main campus of UH
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