UNM Law Renovation and Addition
The Frederick M. Hart wing of the University of New Mexico School of Law is a 34,000 square foot extension providing multi-functional professional spaces such as classrooms, moot courtrooms, offices, an expanded administration area and a new legal clinic. Portions of the existing building, designed by Antoine Predock, were renovated. A new entry canopy and lobby structure creates a recognizable main entry, promote wayfinding, and provide an elevator which links the three levels of the existing building.
The challenging west-facing site and angular geometry of the existing structures drove the design. A sloping, glazed atrium connects the new two story addition to the existing building. The new wing has an east-west circulation spine running from a courtyard to the legal clinic. As a professional education facility, our aim was to promote interaction between faculty members and students. To this end the main circulation spine is glazed on all sides, providing daylight into the courtrooms, classrooms and offices while increasing visibility across activities. A palette of concrete, stucco, steel and glass is utilized to harmonize with the existing building.
In the Fredrick M. Hart building we worked with many people from the University of New Mexico, both Faculty and Staff, to develop a design and program that delivered the imagery, function and performance that the Law School sought. Some of the energy efficient components that were incorporated are: All major spaces are daylit. Low-e coated sloped glazing introduces tempered sunlight into the interior of the building. Glass walls let borrowed light into the classrooms and moot courtrooms. Concrete fins and steel louvers control intense western sun while focusing views to the adjacent golf course.
