new fordham law school by pei cobb freed & partners opens in new york

new fordham law school by pei cobb freed & partners opens in new york
photo by paul warchol

having recently celebrated its dedication ceremony on september 18, the ‘new fordham law school‘ has opened its doors for use, located near new york city’s landmark lincoln center. designed by the architecture office pei cobb freed & partners, the structure’s overall massing is a direct reflection of the programmatic layout with its three main elements: the one-story dining pavilion; the nine floor checkerboard-patterned educational facility housing classrooms, lecture halls, library, and meeting spaces; and the taller residence hall for undergraduate students. the building’s façades gently curve to suggest connections to the surrounding urban context, and are comprised of glass and precast concrete panels.

view from lincoln center
photo by paul warchol

the 468,000 square-foot building more than doubles fordham’s educational, administrative, event, and housing program size. beyond its classrooms, lecture halls, and seminar/conference rooms, the facility features unique spaces including a two-story atrium, a moot and trial court facility, and a 562,000-volume law library. the residence hall tower incorporates five learning center suites, a dance studio, entertainment rooms, and a dining hall to accommodate 130 students.

(left) the new building opens onto fordham’s campus plaza on the south
(right) an elevated glass volume protrudes from the structure along the 62nd street elevation
photo by paul warchol

in regards to the building’s position in the city, design partner yvonne szeto states, ‘our aim was to ensure that this building would not only provide a state-of the-art teaching and learning environment but would also complement the majestic performance facilities of lincoln center, shaping and animating the public realm of the city that is its home.’

in addition, founding partner henry n. cobb remarks, ‘the new law school and residence hall must do more than provide suitable accommodation for the two important constituencies it houses. it must also fulfill a civic duty to two interrelated communities beyond its walls: the university community in which it is embedded, and its neighbors in the larger urban community that adjoins it.’

entrance at 62nd street
photo by paul warchol

a terrace is located off of the second floor on the building’s north side
photo by paul warchol

a circular staircase wraps through the student lobby
photo by paul warchol

glass walls allow for visual openness between the hallway, meeting rooms, and urban context
photo by paul warchol

library reading room
photo by paul warchol

photo by paul warchol

the lobby features stone finishes
photo by paul warchol

a ‘moot court’ complements the law school’s facilities
photo by paul warchol

project info:

location: new york city
gross floor area: 468,000 sqf (339,000 sqf law school; 129,000 sqf residence hall)
client: fordham university
dates: spring 2007 (planning begins), january 2011 (construction begins), may 2, 2011 (groundbreaking ceremony), september 18, 2014 (public dedication)
sustainability: registered for LEED silver certification
architectural and interior design: pei cobb freed & partners
structural design: WSP cantor seinuk
mechanical / electrical / plumbing design: cosentini associates