The Georgia State College of Law building is the most prominent and transformative addition to the Atlanta campus for students. The building at 85 Park Place opened on June 22, 2015, replacing what was once considered sub-par accommodations and lack of room for expansion for the university’s law and business students hosted in the Urban Life building. The College of Law building is Georgia State’s first-ever facility created specifically for legal education. It is LEED Gold certified, exemplifying the university’s aim of sustainability and innovation.

Today, this building has many different spaces designed for a multitude of uses. It features lecture halls, classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, a cafe on the first floor, and a dedicated law library with terrace space on the top two floors. The overall architectural aesthetic design of the building is nearly flawless, in my opinion. The combination of dark wood paneling, tall glass windows, and stone cladding creates a very serious yet tranquil energy throughout the building. The crown jewel would have to be the subtlety of green space provided on the terrace on the top floor.
Ever since discovering this building on campus, I have been drawn to the building’s serine and refined ambiance. It has provided me with a much-needed contrast to the bustling energy of the rest of the campus and Downtown Atlanta, allowing me to decompress briefly between or after classes. Whether filled with focused graduate students or supported by the kind, attentive faculty and staff, the building serves as a calm and welcoming refuge for learning, collaboration, and relaxation. I hope to see this thoughtful design reflected in Georgia State University’s future campus expansion and development with a dedication to elevating the student experience and supporting academic success.