Texas Southern University (TSU) will soon contract with a designer for its upcoming $185 million to $200 million project to build a new centralized building for the School of Law. Construction is expected to begin in September 2027.
The Thurgood Marshall Law Center (TMLC) will replace the existing Thurgood Marshall School of Law building for all law education purposes. The roughly 256,000 square foot, four-story facility will consolidate all Law Center programs distributed across campus under a single roof.
The site will serve as a fully functioning firm to help students gain real-world experience through the East Carl Institute and Law School Clinic. Students will work with real clients through pro bono cases. Features will include waiting areas, interview rooms and private offices. The building will also feature a dedicated law library with library stacks, a reading room, traditional research resources and advanced research technology.
The facility will contain ample administrative departments for all needs. These will include offices for the dean, admissions, financial aid and registrar, communications, the Board of Advocates, the Office of Assessments and Strategic Planning and the Chaired Suite. The layout will also feature plenty of meeting spaces.
In addition, the building will provide ample support spaces for faculty and staff. These include lounges and a library fitted with desking and areas for light snacks. Dedicated student support spaces will include a career services cent er with training and meeting spaces. Plans include a student organization space, student offices, a wellness center with individual respite and spiritual respite rooms, counseling rooms and lactation rooms.
The university will build an auditorium designed to accommodate up to 600 people. The auditorium will utilize integrated technology platforms and support spaces including a large pre-function space and small kitchen.
The TMLC will provide ample teaching and learning spaces, including dedicated court room simulation amenities. Each space will encourage flexibility, technology integration and accessibility. Classrooms will be used for lectures, seminars, collaborative workshops and simulation exercises.
The building’s main lobby will be used for ceremonies and other college events. The layout will include public restrooms, a security station and high ceilings with an opportunity for overlooks from upper floors. Outdoor spaces will either be found at the ground level or at a roof terrace, providing additional collaboration space.
Photo by 2C2K Photography, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, from Wikimedia Commons
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