Lawrence W. Inlow Hall
Indianapolis, Indiana
SmithGroup, Inc.

A civil landmark fits seamlessly into a modern campus setting

© Timothy Hursley

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

Indiana University’s new 185,000-square-foot law school serves as a significant gateway to the university’s Indianapolis campus. Siting and design of the building respond to the nearby state capitol and a historic park, as well as seamlessly unifying the facility into the modern, high quality character of the campus.

The major program areas of the building include a large library wing, a glass and metal block of offices facing the park, and classrooms and student spaces placed on an academic quad anchored by a central atrium. Internally, the atrium provides an easy means of orientation and a focal point for occupants. The classroom spaces are flexible to accommodate a variety of teaching methods. The 70,000-square-foot law library features books, electronic, and audiovisual/interactive research sources and materials. Advanced technologies are utilized for instructional, communications, and administrative purposes.

The internal organization of the facility is arranged according to access to natural light. Internal spaces are placed along the atrium’s perimeter and the major axes defined by the library stair and courtroom, and student spaces are adjacent to the courtyard and quad. Light is manipulated for both aesthetic and functional effects—metal sunscreens have been carefully calibrated to provide light control for the large, glass, south-facing expanses of the office wing and reading room.

Formal name of Project:
Lawrence W. Inlow Hall
Indiana University School of Law -- Indianapolis

Location:
Indianapolis

Gross square footage:
185,000 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$26.5 million

Owner:
The Trustees of Indiana University

Architect:
SmithGroup, Inc.
1825 Eye Street, NW, Suite 250
Washington, DC 20006
202-842-2100 t
202-974-4500 f
info@dc.smithgroup.com
www.smithgroup.com

From left to right: David R.H. King, FAIA; Cheryl Brown, RID;
Mark Maves, AIA; Robert Bull, AIA; Thomas Butcavage, AIA.