Closing Argument

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Issue: Winter 2022

College of Law Building Garners A+ Ranking from Prelaw Magazine


The verdict is out — the College of Law has one of the best buildings in the country, according to newly released rankings from PreLaw magazine.

The College of Law received an A+ ranking from the magazine, which considered aesthetics, space, amenities and location as factors in determining the top law buildings in the U.S.

The latest accolade for the College of Law follows other honors, including a prestigious LEED platinum designation awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2016.

“LEED” stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The USGBC awards this designation to buildings that meet standards of being green and efficient in their design. LEED-certified spaces use less energy and water; save money for taxpayers, businesses and other building owners; reduce carbon emissions; create jobs; and establish a healthier environment for residents, workers, and the larger community. The University of Utah’s law school was the first in the western United States designed to earn such a designation and in 2016 was believed to be only the second law school in the country to achieve that status.

The law school built its LEED platinum building with assistance from the Alternative Visions Fund of the Chicago Community Trust, which provided $4.5 million in support of the sustainability features. Many of the law school’s sustainability features have served as examples for other building projects on the campus of the University of Utah, the Salt Lake community, and the nation, and some are models of innovation. For example, windows in the building have ultraviolet spider web designs that are visible to birds but not humans, greatly reducing bird collisions.