February 16- Stetson Law to dedicate new Tampa Law Center and Campus Feb. 21
Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
(727) 562-7889
Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law will dedicate its new Tampa Law Center and Campus at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Dignitaries, members of the judiciary and local public officials are expected to attend.
“This is a significant milestone in the history of our law school and the city of Tampa,” said Dean Darby Dickerson. “The Tampa campus will create invaluable opportunities for our students and will be a great resource to the Tampa Bay legal community.”
Stetson University President H. Douglas Lee thanked the city of Tampa for its assistance with the project and for what it means to potential law students.
“Stetson is committing its financial and professional resources to enhance legal education and services for the people of Tampa, our state and for the nation.” Lee said. “We praise the city and people of Tampa for your vision. Stetson is proud to be your partner.”
Included in the festivities will be a special dedication of the W. Gary Vause Atrium at 1:15 p.m. The atrium commemorates the work of late Stetson Dean W. Gary Vause who spearheaded the design and construction of the Tampa campus.
The Tampa Law Center and Campus opened for classes Jan. 15. Located at 1700 N. Tampa St., just off Interstate 275, it is the first law school in Tampa. Approximately 130 students will have classes in Tampa during the spring semester.
The Stetson Law Center and Campus will be a major hub for legal activity in downtown Tampa and will house evening law classes, the Tampa branch of the Florida Second District Court of Appeal and continuing legal education programs. This unique combination makes the William Reece Smith Jr. Courtroom only the third location in the country and the first in Florida where a law school and sitting court will share space.
“The Second District is very excited to finally have the opportunity to work with Stetson in creating Florida’s first teaching courtroom,” said Chief Judge Second District Court of Appeal Chris W. Altenbernd.
The three-story, 73,500-square-foot building reflects the same Spanish-Mediterranean architecture of Stetson’s Gulfport campus, including a tower that overlooks downtown Tampa.
“The Tampa Law Center and Campus is more than just a law classroom,” said Jan Majewski, Tampa campus associate dean. “This will become the epicenter for the Tampa Bay legal community to meet, learn and work.”
The first and second floors house classrooms, a state-of-the-art courtroom, a law library and other law school space. The third floor contains chambers and offices for the Florida Second District Court of Appeal. The general contractor is Angle & Schmid and the architectural firm is FleischmanGarcia.
For information on attending classes at the Stetson University College of Law’s Tampa Law Center and Campus, contact the Admissions Office at (727) 562-7802 or [email protected].
Post date: Feb. 16, 2004
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
[email protected] | 727-430-1580