Harvard Law Unveils New Building for Legal Clinics, Research Programs

Harvard Law School Dean John F. Manning ’82 unveiled a new building slated to house several clinics, programs, and faculty offices at a reception early last week.

Harvard’s Alex Krieger, a professor at the Graduate School of Design, designed the building. Located at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Everett Street, the edifice is the first at the school to be designed by Krieger’s company, NBBJ.

Krieger has taught at Design School since 1977 and has led several university-wide architecture projects. He served as the senior planning advisor for Harvard’s expansion into Allston.

Krieger said his team sought to design a building that was not just a reflection of its domineering counterpart across the street — the Law School’s Wasserstein Hall.

“The Law School itself wanted to produce a building that, while distinguished and representative of Harvard, looked like it fit into the neighborhood,” Krieger said.

Krieger added that he hopes the new building will be more welcoming to those who seek aid at the various legal clinics inside — including the Health Law and Policy Clinic, the Access to Justice Lab, and the Criminal Justice Institute.

“Some people find it kind of uncomfortable to enter into this monumental Law School building,” Krieger said of Wasserstein. He added that some passersby may feel like “they would somehow be made to be small.”

D. James Greiner, a Law professor and Faculty Director of the Access of Justice Lab, said he is excited to move out of Wasserstein and into the much-needed new space. The new building is in part meant to accommodate the tremendous growth of clinical learning programs in recent years.

“We’re currently in two different, small, basement offices, so the new office space is welcome,” Greiner wrote in an email. “We work with about 60 law, undergraduate, and graduate students at any one time, so the meeting spaces the new building offers are also quite welcome.”

Representatives from the other programs and clinics did not respond to requests for comment.

Manning said he feels enthusiastic about the new space in an emailed statement Wednesday.

“Our new building is designed to be a hub of collaboration and energy,” Manning wrote. “As home to important clinics and pro bono and research programs, it reflects the school’s commitment to innovation, deep learning, collegiality, and service.”

—Staff writer Aidan F. Ryan can be reached at aidan.ryan@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @AidanRyanNH.

—Staff writer Ruth Zheng can be reached at ruth.zheng@thecrimson.com.