Feature Story: Eck Hall of Law

Eck Atrium After a couple weeks of classes, students, faculty, and staff are finally settling into The Law School’s new building—Eck Hall of Law. “It is just magnificent,” says LL.M. student Andres PizarroSotomayor. Adds 1L Marie Connelly, “I love all the space.”

In 2001, The Law School embarked on a $57,680,000 expansion and renovation plan. The new building houses classrooms, faculty offices, and administrative office space, and connects to the “old” structure by a covered walkway and chapel at ground level, and by a commons area above.

Renovation of the gothic structure that has been home to The Law School since the 1930s has already begun. When completed in June 2010, that structure will house a renovated Law Library and administrative office space.

Eck ND seal “We are proud to be part of this historical transition,” says LL.M. student Joe Kibugu of Kenya.

“Eck Hall of Law is a dramatic symbol of our continuing quest for excellence,” says Dean Patricia O’Hara. “It will play a critical role in helping us to attract the very best faculty and students to Notre Dame, and contribute greatly to creating and recreating each year a dynamic community grounded in the Judeo-Christian intellectual tradition.”

The building is named for the late Frank Eck, Sr., who donated $21 million—the largest gift in The Law School’s history—toward construction of the building.

Dedication ceremony will be held on May 1, 2009.

Eck Hall of Law Fact Sheet

Eck Front door

  • Total Project Cost – $57,680,000
    Includes Expansion (Eck Hall of Law) and
    Renovation of existing Law School (Biolchini Hall)
  • Total Gross Square Feet for Eck Hall of Law – 85,500 gsf
  • Total Gross Square Feet for Eck Hall of Law and Biolchini Hall – 192,000 gsf
  • Eck Family Groundbreaking – July 31, 2007
  • Faculty and Staff Move In – January 5, 2009
  • Classroom Space
    Two (2) 105-seat lecture halls
    Two (2) 70-seat lecture halls
    Three (3) 24-seat seminar rooms
    Two (2) 22-seat seminar rooms
    One (1) Computer Lab
    A Variety of Skills Training Rooms
    One (1) 205-seat Moot Courtroom
  • Faculty and Staff Office Space
    New offices for Law faculty and staff

Eck commons

  • Student Activities, Services and Amenities
    Eck Commons
    ND Law Review
    Journal of Law Ethics and Public Policy
    Journal of Legislation
    Journal of College and University Law
    Student Bar Association
    Student Organization
  • Chapel
    75-seat Chapel

Eck classroom

  • Audio/Visual Technology
    The University worked with one of the best audio/visual consulting firms in the country, Waveguide Consulting, Inc., to design and develop state-of-the-art classroom and courtroom technology for the needs of the students and faculty.





eck courtroom