University of Cincinnati trustees OK $40M renovation to keep College of Law on campus

Cincinnati Enquirer

An artist's rendering of the proposed new home of the UC College of Law, which will undergo a $40 million renovation of Carl H. Lindner Hall beginning in 2019.

The University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved a $40 million renovation of Carl H. Lindner Hall to be the new home of the UC College of Law.

The decision keeps the law school on campus, ending a debate that has been contentious over the past couple of years. Several trustees, members of the business community and key donors wanted to move the school to The Banks Downtown, closer to most law firms and the Hamilton County Courthouse.

Ultimately, it was money that led to a 5-4 vote last year to kill the plan for an off-campus move. A building at The Banks would've cost about $61 million, plus parking fees for students and faculty.

More:The key to UC's decision on law school location

The board chose instead to fund a $1 million study to explore construction options on campus, which found renovating Lindner Hall to be the best option. The trustees approved that $40 million plan, which was announced in September, at a board meeting Tuesday.

Reinventing a building is much more sustainable than tearing down and starting over, according to Mary Beth McGrew, UC architect and senior associate vice president of planning, design and construction.

A new high-ceilinged addition to Lindner Hall would provide a bright and airy space for the UC Law community to meet, gather and study.

Now, the university will have a revitalized building in the heart of the Uptown campus.

“This plan exemplifies the upward trajectory of our law school,” said Verna Williams, interim dean of the College of Law. “The proposed plan will create a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of UC’s Uptown campus that will meet the innovative needs of our students for years to come, and supports the interdisciplinary study and expertise that the field of law requires.”

Work to renovate the six-story building will begin in the fall of 2019, following the opening of the new Lindner College of Business building. The new law school should open in 2021.

"We're looking forward to working with the university architect and her team in configuring a building that works best for a law school of the 21st century," Williams said. "This new building likely will set the standard for law schools for years to come."

Lindner Hall was built in 1986, designed to accommodate 1,800 students. The 84,443-square-foot facility offers more than enough space for the College of Law’s community of fewer than 400 students.

The $40 million renovation of Lindner Hall would enlarge classrooms and include state-of-the-art technology.

University plans show they will retain the building’s brick façade but replace its tinted windows with clear glass to allow for more natural light. Classrooms will be enlarged, with spaces carved out for faculty and students to gather and study, a large auditorium to host community events, law library and office space for faculty and staff.

The new location will allow for shared classrooms to promote interdisciplinary studies and degree programs with the College of Engineering and Applied Science, business school and UC’s medical campus.

The renovation will include overhauling the building’s mechanical and electrical systems to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

The university hopes the new home will promote student enrollment for the college, which ranks among the top 50 public law schools in the nation.