I am delighted to tell you about several exciting developments at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.   In June 2007, we will begin construction that will recreate and entirely transform the main law building, renovate the three large outside classrooms, and greatly expand and improve the courtyard that allows us to enjoy Arizona weather all year.  The project will create new and improved student space, a state-of-the art law library, and modernize the classroom environment at the College.  As a result, the student experience at the College will be even better than it is already. 

During construction, which we anticipate will last between 15 and 18 months, all College classroom and administrative operations will occur within a 2-3 block radius of the current College of Law buildings (“Law Main”), as shown on the map that you can see by clicking on this link.  Although the main building will be closed during construction, the affected operations will take place in new locations just north and east of the College.   Library services and computer access, individual and group study space, and new student activity and lounge space, will all be provided.  The construction schedule anticipates our full (and joyous) return to a newly renovated College in the fall of 2008. 

That same fall, United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is scheduled to deliver the Marks Memorial Lecture, just one of the College’s many annual programs. We are also very excited that the following spring, Chief Justice John Roberts will join us to deliver a lecture at the College.  In addition, the first Annual Darrow Soll Lecture will be delivered next winter by Stephen B. Bright, Director for the Southern Center for Human Rights.  Stay tuned for the full schedule of annual Enrichment Events, Conferences, and other special programs that will occur during the coming months and years.

The renovation project will not affect the nature, quality, or number of our course offerings or enrichment programs.  Computers and wireless access will  be available to students throughout the entire Law Campus.   Moreover, thanks to the efforts of a large number of dedicated people throughout the entire University, our law students will enjoy a Student Center that will offer food and coffee service and a satellite University Bookstore. This Center will be conveniently located directly across the street from the building that will house many law classes during construction, in what we are calling, for identification purposes, the NW Law Complex.  Everything possible has been done to assure that next year will be a wonderful year, as we set the stage for an even better College of Law campus in the years that follow.

We hope you will share our pleasure as the entire College of Law community – current students, faculty, staff, and administrators, joined by alumni who are providing both financial and consulting support for the project – move into this exciting period of the College’s life. Together, we are creating a space that will serve many generations of law students and our alumni and surrounding public community.  The class of 2009 will will be the first to experience the new changes, and will be the bridge from the College of today and the College we will become. We hope you will watch the renovation with us and play a  part in this historic moment!

If you have any questions about any developments at the College of Law, including curricular offerings, student opportunities for community service and other enrichment activities, and the work being done at the College by our faculty and students, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.  You can email any questions about this project to TheBigMove@law.arizona.edu.

Sincerely yours,

Toni M. Massaro

Dean and Regents’ Professor,
Milton O. Riepe Chair in Constitutional Law