ALL RISE

Justice may be blind, but it was pretty clear to everyone else that the UH Law Center needed a new building. 

For half a century, the law has been taught in the same spot at the University. And for nearly a decade there has been a growing consensus that the venerable but outdated facility needed to be replaced. That vision becomes a reality later this spring when construction of the new John M. O’Quinn Law Building gets underway. 

Named after the late lawyer and alumnus to recognize a $16 million gift, the new venue will be located in the northeast corner of the campus between University Lofts and the current law center facility. The $93 million high-tech complex is designed to enhance the educational experience while also serving as a hub to engage and serve the public. A glass-fronted lobby will serve as a focal point for students and visitors. A multi-level library, and modern technology and amenities throughout, will expand teaching capabilities. A multi-purpose event room and flexible classroom spaces will allow greater outreach to the community for clinical services, educational workshops, conferences and judicial proceedings. 

“This will be the world class building we have talked about so often,” said Dean Leonard M. Baynes, who made the new facility a top priority when he became dean more than five years ago. “The Law Center deserves it; the nation’s fourth largest city deserves it; and most of all, our faculty, alumni and students deserve it.” 

Established in 1947, the UH Law Center is home to three top 10 law programs according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings and it has produced more than 16,000 alumni worldwide.