Northwestern University School of Law, SMART Classrooms Renovation

Chicago, Illinois

Firm

Griskelis Young Harrell

Client

Northwestern University

Area

3,470 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$1,450,000

Completion Date

09/2007

An opportunity presented itself for Northwestern University’s prestigious School of Law to add much-needed first-floor classrooms when the American Bar Association, a Northwestern University tenant within the Arthur Rubloff Building, made the decision to move its museum space out of the tower portion of the building.
The School of Law challenged the design team to create two easily accessible, 75-seat, SMART classrooms. The rooms were to be grand, “showcase” classrooms built within existing space, having a 10-foot, 6-inch ceiling height and a room depth of only 36 feet.
Working closely with the director of facilities and space planning of the law school, the design team modified existing spaces in order to achieve a connection between the classrooms and the rest of the school with a new circulation “loop.”
The new classrooms advance the School of Law’s academic heritage of excellence by integrating the latest technology into rich, humane, light-filled environs of learning.