After completing a similar teaching courtroom facility for Stetson University College of Law in Tampa, the University of Florida selected our team to design the new Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center at the prestigious Levin College of Law in Gainesville, Florida. As a 19,476 sq. ft. free standing, two-story building to the south of Bruton-Greer Hall, the building serves not only as a teaching courtroom facility, but also, as a potential venue for civil court cases and district courts of appeal hearings. Designed as a cornerstone of the northwest part of the campus, the building's glass and wood paneled two-story lobby serves as a gathering place on campus, a venue for cocktail parties, and is a highly visible landmark in the community.
Containing state-of-the-art technology, this facility embodies the advances that sophisticated courtrooms have taken. Each of the seven appointed moderators may view evidence from an audio video system privately, select specific views, and even control who views it and when. Due to the elaborate video displays, there isn't a bad seat in the house. With multiple robotic cameras and an integrated audio system, the room’s proceedings may be displayed, previewed, or stored to be reviewed at a later date. The entire facility's system controls are also modular and may be used remotely, through the local area network. As a learning facility, the courtroom doubles as a classroom, allowing students the opportunity of experiencing real-world courtroom experience. Future faculty offices and an additional student courtroom on the second floor are also included.
This project was granted LEED Gold certification.
