The School of Law-Camden held a groundbreaking September 26 for its new facility – the most significant construction on the campus in 20 years.
The $37 million facility, which will be on the former parking lot on Fifth Street, will add 50,000 square feet to the law school and connect to the existing building, which will be renovated. The new facility will include a moot court complex – a court used for training – student gathering space, offices for student organizations, instructional space and room for administrative functions.
Additional space will enable the law school to expand its clinical and pro bono programs. Such programs allow students to work with attorneys and law school staff providing legal services to citizens who otherwise would not have representation.
The project is funded partially by an $11 million grant from the state as part of the Municipal Recovery and Rehabilitation Act of 2002, which aims to strengthen the anchoring roles of higher education and health care in Camden’s recovery.
The new building is expected to be completed in late 2007 and will link to the current law school, built in 1971, via a third-floor sky walk. Renovations of the existing facility should be completed in summer 2008.