San Diego’s East Village welcomed a new addition to its community Wednesday.
The Thomas Jefferson School of Law broke ground on the site for its new downtown campus. Faculty and students gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony, which featured special guests Mayor Jerry Sanders, school President and Dean Rudy Hasl, alumni Rep. Duncan Hunter, City Councilman Kevin Faulconer, and others.
The new 8-story building is designed to be a green building, in compliance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. Its modern design will include outdoor terraces and spacious windows that will allow those in the community to see into the school. Part of the ground floor will also be open to the public, featuring a café, legal clinic, and bookstore.
The law school is currently located on San Diego Ave. in Old Town. Its new downtown location will greatly benefit students, bringing them closer to the courthouses and government offices.
The site for the new campus is 1155 Island Ave., just a short walk from Petco Park and the Gaslamp District, and is scheduled for completion by the 2010-2011 school year.
