Stantec was tasked with delivering the Washburn University Law School a building that was reflective of modern learning in Topeka, Kansas.

Established in 1903, Washburn University Law School is highly ranked and known for the consistent excellence of its graduates. In fall of 2019, Washburn hired our team to design a new law building that will respond to changes in legal education. A programming study defined a mix of efficient, multi-functional spaces that will address both current and future needs in a smaller footprint than the existing law building.

Keeping the context of the campus in mind, the new building was designed for flexibility. Courtrooms will double as lecture classrooms, a large classroom is divisible and reconfigurable, and the smaller classrooms have a variety of possible arrangements. All meeting spaces are available for seminar classes and group study use. The law library will hold 50,000 volumes in space-saving mobile shelving and feature expanded study space and the Centers for Excellence will share a suite designed to accommodate future programming changes without physical reconfiguration.

With the project expected to reach completion in 2022, the new Washburn Law building will bring increased prominence, functionality, and flexibility to a great school. In addition to providing for current needs, the design will allow future change and growth to be gracefully accommodated, ensuring an elegant long-term home for the Washburn Law School.

Design: Stantec
Photography: Jason Keen