A Renewed Home for Richmond Law
When students, faculty, and staff walked through the doors of Richmond Law at the start of the 2024–25 academic year, they stepped into a fully transformed space. After more than three years of work and a $27.5 million investment from donors and the University, the law school building now reflects the vibrant community it serves — modern, functional, and welcoming.
The renovation, which launched in 2021, was completed when the fall 2024 semester began. In the final phase, the Robert R. Merhige Jr. Moot Courtroom saw a full transformation.
All of this was designed with one priority in mind: people.
“Most of our law students commute to our campus and spend their entire day, day after day, in the law school,” said Dean Wendy Perdue. “We are delighted to have created a space that is more inviting, pleasant, and accommodating for not only our students, but also our faculty, staff, and visitors.”
Key updates include a spacious new “Law Commons” at the heart of the building, designed as a central hub for connection and collaboration. Classrooms were upgraded to support learning and advocacy and new study areas — ranging from quiet nooks to collaborative zones — give students flexibility in how they work. In addition, the school’s clinics and offices, once scattered across campus, now share a home under the same roof.
The results were visible throughout the academic year.
“There is a noticeable energy change as you walk through the building,” said Perdue. “People are engaging in our central gathering space. People are studying in the way that best suits their needs. Our space is now more consistent with being a community that is connecting and caring for each other.”
The renovation has been years in the making, with planning beginning in 2018. Initially envisioned as a series of smaller updates, the project grew into a comprehensive overhaul when the HVAC system needed replacement. The last significant renovation to the law school took place in the early 1990s, making this transformation both timely and necessary.
Now complete, the building stands as more than a facility — it is a reflection of Richmond Law’s commitment to its students, its community, and its mission of preparing lawyers who will lead with knowledge, compassion, and purpose.
Read more in the Dean's Report.