Law School groundbreaking

[Sir Lawrence]

THURSDAY, May 8, 2008, 10:02 a.m.
By Tom Daykin
Marquette Law School groundbreaking May 22

Marquette University will stage the groundbreaking of its new Law School building during a May 22 ceremony after the university's Board of Trustees gave final approval for the project during its meeting Wednesday.

"We recognize the importance the Law School has always had in educating lawyers of the highest skill and ethical caliber," said Marquette President Rev. Robert A. Wild, in a statement. "This new building will allow our first-rate faculty to deliver the very best in legal education to a new generation."

The building will be named Eckstein Hall in honor of the $51 million donation from Raymond A. and Katherine A. Eckstein, an alumni couple from Cassville.

Inside, the four-story structure will feature the Zilber Forum, recognizing Milwaukee real estate developer Joseph Zilber, an alumnus who last August contributed $30 million, of which $5 million will be used toward construction of the building and $25 million will go to student scholarships. The project, estimated to cost $85 million, has also been supported by an early $1 million gift from the Bradley Foundation as well as several seven-figure gifts from anonymous donors. There is $19 million left to be raised.

The 200,000-square-foot building will be at the southeast corner of the Marquette campus, at N. 11th St. and W. Clybourn Ave. It will include two levels of underground parking. The building was designed by Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson & Abbott Architects and Opus Architects & Engineers, with Opus North Corp. leading construction. It is targeted for completion by fall 2010.