The College of William & Mary, Wolf Law Library Additions and Alterations

Musty, dusty, dark and cloistered. America’s first law school library no longer was capable of attracting top students. To gain a recruiting edge, college officials knew they needed to create an environment that would mirror the upscale, professional atmosphere of a corporate law firm.

The alterations and additions were designed with three key elements in mind: respect the building envelope and surrounding campus, advance the existing architectural aesthetic, and integrate tradition harmoniously with technology.

Site constraints required innovative approaches—from phasing construction so the library could remain operational, to capturing natural light through skylights and walls of windows that offer serene views of an adjacent wooded ravine.

Providing almost twice the previous space, this new facility has an open setting that encourages collaboration, and allows rare books and wireless Internet to be accessed under the same roof.

Fulfilling its purpose of respecting the traditional institutions of the law while recognizing the values and expectations of today’s student body, Wolf Law Library now serves as a beacon, luring the best and brightest legal minds to this prestigious school.

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