Jacksonville University College of Law opens in new downtown campus
JU President Tim Cost, from the left, JU interim Provost Dr. Sherri Jackson, JU College of Law Dean Nick Allard, Mayor Donna Deegan, City Council Vice President Kevin Carrico, and JU College of Law Vice Dean Margaret Dees cut the ribbon to the law school Monday morning.
The fledgling Jacksonville University College of Law on August 26 celebrated the opening a new downtown campus in the historic former Atlantic Bank Building.
Randall C. Berg, Jr., Founding Dean Nick Allard said the college is looking forward “to educating a long line of outstanding future lawyers” in the “historic” space.
“We’re grateful beyond measure to the City of Jacksonville for their support and encouragement of our law school,” Allard said. “We also acknowledge the exceptional talent of our design and construction partners for making the bold vision of President [Tim] Cost and the University Board of Trustees a realty for our students and the people of Northeast Florida.”
Renovation of 50,000-square feet on four contiguous floors was completed in early August. The eight-month, “adaptive reuse renovation” was completed on time to coincide with fall classes getting underway, administrators said.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan helped mark the occasion, and referred to the city’s $6.5 million investment in the $12 million project.
“We congratulate them on this significant milestone for the school and for our city,” Deegan said. “The new law school campus is a key part of our plans to grow higher education in Jacksonville and make downtown a place where people will choose to learn, work, play and visit.”
The renovation will accommodate a growing student body, as well as additional faculty and staff, administrators said.
They stressed that the project preserved historic features of the building, including a second-floor reception room, a main stairwell on the first floor, and the original ceiling details above it.
In March, JU College of Law received provisional ABA accreditation “on the fastest possible timeline,” administrators said. That began a two-year timeframe to apply for full accreditation.
JU College of Law welcomed its third incoming class earlier this month, the largest yet, with 44 students. The inaugural class is scheduled to graduate in spring.
Cost said he’s looking forward to shaking hands with the first graduates.
“The opening of the College of Law in this beautifully restored, historic space is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and partners who turned vision into reality. Together, we have laid a strong foundation for a future where our law school will thrive and serve an important need in our community.”
