Howard S. and Alida S. Charney Hall of Law
Future-focused yet rooted in tradition, Howard S. and Alida S. Charney Hall is the new home of the Santa Clara University School of Law. Weaving together collaboration, research, instructional, and student support space, Charney Hall is a vibrant academic forum where dialogue and exchange of ideas is encouraged.
The three-story, 97,000-square-foot facility houses the University’s numerous academic law programs, including intellectual property law, international law, public interest and social justice law, and privacy law. The two-story lobby/circulation area facilitates visual connections throughout the building, while the third floor roof terrace offers views of campus and the surrounding area. A large entry plaza features outdoor seating and can be configured to accommodate a number of University events.
Charney Hall includes a 230-seat lecture hall that can be divided into two 115-seat lecture halls as well as several different mock court layouts. The building also features a 1,700-square-foot collaborative learning classroom. A new law library includes 4,300 square feet of stacks and a large reading room with new technology-based research capabilities. A legal clinic provides hands-on experience to law students and services clients and the community. Study spaces and 53 faculty and administrative offices are located throughout the building.
SCB’s design complements the University’s traditional campus core, offering a contemporary take on the mission style while embracing the University’s Jesuit educational mission. The building’s design conveys transparency and inclusion, and incorporates sustainable strategies to create a low-impact, environmentally responsive building aligned with Jesuit ideals.
“I have been impressed and amazed at the depth of commitment, talent and effort put into our new Charney Hall law building by the SCB design team. SCB has been an effective partner in the program and facility development throughout the entire process.”
-Chris Shay, Associate Vice President for University Operations, Santa Clara University
