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The Arizona Center for Law and Society, the new building for Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, opened to the public Monday with a ceremony that highlighted the role of public law schools.
Since the college was established in 1964 it’s been housed at ASU’s Tempe campus where speakers at Monday’s ceremony said it went through growth, success and struggle through the years. The new $129 million, 280,000-square-foot building is located on First and Taylor streets, and includes a restaurant, bookstore, courtyard and two levels of underground parking.
In front of an audience that included Sandra Day O’Connor herself, ASU President Michael Crow said the Arizona Center for Law and Society was created to contribute to society’s perception of law and lawmakers. Crow repeated his mantra about the university in regards to the law school — that unlike other schools, its value lies in the students it accepts rather than its rejection rate.
He said the new building makes the school well-positioned to help its students be successful despite traditional perceptions of public law schools, and he thanked the various groups and community members who invested in the project.
“Group after group, family after family, and person after person has stepped up in significant ways to make this happen,” Crow said.
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U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa said the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law helped her realize her own goals and dreams.
She said the school has already produced a number of successful chief justices, White House correspondents, Arizona Congressmen, attorney generals and tribal figures.
Dean Douglas Sylvester said the school emphasizes and capitalizes on O’Connor’s name to carry the weight of its prestige.
“I don’t want to disappoint Justice Sandra Day O’Connor,” he said.
The idea for the new law building sprouted in 2006 and died with the recession in 2007, Sylvester said. After many influential figures rebuilt the dream and proposal — and after many giving sources funded the project — the building came alive again.
He said that when thinking about leadership in terms of law professions, the school looks for students and faculty that are going to inspire greatness in others.
“(Contributors and financial supporters) have made it possible for their dreams to come true,” Sylvester said. “But it is only the beginning for them.”
Contact the reporter at brianna.bradley@asu.edu.
