Facilities

During his 15 years on the faculty, Professor Michael Gottesman has watched as “Georgetown has been physically transformed from an alienating, claustrophobic place to what is undoubtedly the most congenial law school environment in the U.S.”

IN 1999, AFTER YEARS OF WISHFUL THINKING AND MUCH NEGOTIATION, THE LAW CENTER ACQUIRED THE LAND AT FIRST AND F STREETS FROM THE TOBISHIMA CORPORATION OF JAPAN THAT MADE FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE CAMPUS POSSIBLE.

 A decade later, Gewirz continues to be a major part of student life. “The dorm has been a real home away from home,” says Nathan Headrick (L’04), who lived there all three years at Georgetown. “It’s proven to be a community of friends and scholars I could rely on. That made all of law school, particularly first year, much easier to embrace and enjoy.” In 1997, the east wing was added to McDonough Hall, making room for student organizations, classrooms, clinics, and faculty offices.
     And in 1999, after years of wishful thinking and much negotiation, the Law Center acquired the land at First and F Streets from the Tobishima Corporation of Japan that made further expansion of the campus possible.
     Says Wallace Mlyniec, who chaired the Campus Completion Committee: “We kept looking out the window thinking about that land, thinking about what we would do if we got it.” They dreamed big, determined to create the “dynamic place to study, to teach, and to learn,” called for in the 1999 - 2004 Long Range Plan.
     Inspired by the belief that in an increasingly global environment, graduates must be versed in international and comparative law, the Law Center broke ground for the Eric E. Hotung International Law Center Building in June 2002. The state-of-the-art building is named for philanthropist Eric Hotung, a 1951 graduate of Georgetown University – and the father of five Georgetown graduates, including Anthony Hotung (L’95) – who contributed a $5 million gift.
     Indeed, the Campus Completion Project propelled forward by alumni and friends who raised an extraordinary $102 million, also included the new Sport and Fitness Center and a second tree-lined green space made possible by the closing of F Street. With the fulfillment of the building project this spring, the campus doubled in size, extending over three contiguous city blocks.

THE SIX- STORY HOTUNG INTERNATIONAL LAW CENTER BUILDING BRINGS THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS UNDER ONE ROOF FOR THE FIRST TIME.

    The six-story Hotung International Law Center Building brings the international programs under one roof for the first time. It includes a moot courtroom designed to better prepare attorneys to argue before the nation’s highest Court, an International Law Library to house the Law Center’s substantial international collection, 14 additional classrooms and seminar rooms, space for the Office of International and Graduate Programs, and an Alumni Welcoming Center made possible by Timothy O’Neill (L’77) and Linda O’Neill (N’77) that serves as a home base for visiting graduates.
     The glass-fronted, four-story Sport and Fitness Center includes workout space, basketball and racquetball courts, and a lap pool. After working out, students will be able to grab a latte at the coffee bar, a snack at the café, or, on cold days, relax with friends in front of the fireplace in the lounge. On warm days students can study or chat with friends in the new green space.
     Students and alumni marvel at the changes. “The face of our campus has improved dramatically,” said Nathan Headrick (L’04).
     Not as visible are the technological innovations the school has made. Under the direction of Chief Information Officer Pablo Molina, Georgetown enjoys cutting-edge technology in all aspects of school life, starting with the admission process. Applications to the Law Center can be made entirely online. Once admitted, they can tap into chat services, multimedia streaming, and virtual tours. The Law Center’s new software package, “Courseware,” is used extensively by professors to upload syllabi and assignments and by students to post questions pertaining to the class. The Hotung building and the Sport and Fitness Center are designed to be wireless.