King Hall Construction Moves Ahead
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Construction Moves Ahead
The King Hall Expansion and Renovation Project is well underway, with the new east wing rapidly taking shape as construction crews hustle to finish foundation work before the onset of seasonal rains. The project has necessitated the temporary closure of sections of the UC Davis Arboretum and Arboretum footpath adjacent to the building as utility lines are connected, and the courtyard remains closed pending the completion of construction. The new wing is scheduled to be completed and occupied in December 2009.
Meanwhile, a new access ramp outside King Hall's faculty wing is being painted and weatherized, and plans are in motion to add new bike racks and picnic tables while the project moves forward. Faculty, staff, students, and visitors are cautioned to avoid closed areas and make use of marked pedestrian paths to ensure safety as construction continues.
The King Hall building, home to the UC Davis School of Law, has changed little since its completion in 1968, even as the size and scope of the School's programs and reputation, as well as the number of faculty and students, have grown dramatically in four decades. The expansion adds 18,000 assignable square feet. After the expansion phase is done, the existing structure will be renovated and upgraded to enhance accessibility and safety as well as appearance. The renovation will expand the Mabie Law Library and student areas within the School. Students will benefit from new reading rooms, group study rooms, new soft seating areas, and enhanced student organization spaces.
When the project is complete, the School of Law will enjoy an aesthetically striking and functional state-of-the-art facility-one that will accommodate the latest technology and teaching techniques and provide tremendous flexibility for the School as it continues to develop well into the future. The first floor will see the greatest transformation. The expansion will enclose the courtyard and create circular movement and add light throughout the building. After entering through the new hall's distinctive entryway, students and faculty will enjoy classrooms designed specifically to nurture interactive, cross-disciplinary, skills-based learning. A grand appellate courtroom and auditorium will host real-world and mock court proceedings, instruction, and lectures for the entire law school community, and professional education for the bench and bar. Natural light and transparency are hallmarks of the new design, and the overall ambience will be one of brilliance and openness, reflecting the highest aspirations and strong public spirit of the School itself.
A building committee comprising faculty, staff, students, alumni, and campus participants is actively designing the King Hall renovation component of the project. Encouraged and spurred by a generous matching challenge offered by the William and Inez Mabie Family Foundation, Dean Johnson and the Law School's development and alumni relations teams continue to pursue private support to maximize the improvements possible in the renovation phase and realize the full potential of this once-in-a-generation opportunity to renew King Hall.