New Legal and Educational Facility will be Complete and Ready for 2015 Fall Classes
ATLANTA (June 25, 2014) –McCarthy Building Companies Inc. (www.mccarthy.com) reached a construction milestone with the topping out the new building for Georgia State University College of Law. Donors celebrated at a ceremony held on June 25. The LEED Silver Certified facility is being built on John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, one block east of Peachtree Street.
The 200,000 square foot Georgia State Law building is the university’s first dedicated legal education facility, housed on a 2.42-acre site located on the downtown campus. This is the first phase of a multi-building university complex. The $62.8 million facility includes a conference center, a 230-seat ceremonial courtroom, areas for clinical practice and community outreach and an International Arbitration Center. The Law Library will occupy the top two floors and offer flexible learning space for individuals, groups, classes and guests, as well as a formal reading room, a café and outdoor terraces.
“The new building provides a unique opportunity to become an intellectual and professional hub that encourages interaction and synergy,” said Steven J. Kaminshine, College of Law dean and professor of law. “Through the new conference center, our clinical center and the 230-seat ceremonial courtroom, we will open channels among students, alumni, the university community, members of the bench and bar, legislators and policymakers, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to service and advocacy.
“We’re honored to be part of the team that is making GSU’s long-held dream of a new building for the law school a reality,” said Kevin Kuntz, McCarthy’s Southeast Division President. “Georgia State’s new College of Law is a great facility that will further Atlanta’s academic advancement, and will do so in a manner that feeds into the area’s transformation in a sustainable manner.”
The Georgia State Law building features numerous sustainable elements, including a green roof complete with vegetation and trees to improve air quality and provide a unique downtown aesthetic. Energy efficiency comes through the use of magnetic drive chillers within the climate control system, which reduce heat and friction during operation. A variable refrigerant flow cooling system allows efficient multizone temperature control while eliminating air and water as heat transfer mediums. Inside finishes include high-end wood paneling on walls and ceilings and terrazzo flooring. Outside, zinc metal panels and coping will connect windows for an ultra-modern aesthetic.
The ceremony itself featured festivities for crews such as a catered lunch and prize raffles. Remarks were shared by Associate Dean Roy M. Sobelson, McCarthy Project Manager Justis Brogan and Stevens & Wilkinson Principal Ron Stang. Also on hand were representatives from SmithGroup JJR and Stevens & Wilkinson architectural firms which designed the building with Georgia State University’s facilities management department.
Students and community members can follow the project’s progress on Facebook at facebook.com/gsulawconstruction or on Twitter at @gsulawconstruct.
Facility Fast Facts
- 16,179 square feet of wood paneling
- 292 square yards of area accent rugs
- 36,000 square feet of cast in place terrazzo flooring
- 11,000 cubic yards of concrete
- 998 tons of reinforcing steel
- 215,000 lbs of ductwork
- 22,500 LF of HVAC Piping
- 1,070,000 square feet of drywall
- 4,300 gallons of paint
- 70,000 square feet of glass
- 7,000 square feet of glass markerboards
- 22,650 SF (2,444 panels) of Zinc panels
- Stone Cladding = 24,000 square feet of stone cladding
- 19,000 square yards of carpet
- See building rendering at building.law.gsu.edu
Source: McCarthy http://www.mccarthy150.com/ or by following the company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.
