Thursday 24 September 2015


The Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey Room in Hutchins Hall (1933) is uniquely designed to accommodate around one hundred law students. This was the last of William Cook’s donation of buildings. It is simpler than the rest of the law school buildings because construction started right after Cooks death, which resulted in less input  and influence on the architects. However, the building is still designed with great detail and elegance.

There are many details in this classroom that make it specifically for law education. For example, the chairs and tables are lined up in the shape of an amphitheater, centering around a judicial bench like desk. Next to the center bench is a podium that largely resembles a witness stand.  The wooden desks are continuous, which is very similar to most traditional court rooms. 

The aura in this classroom is very elegant and classical, which also makes it seem judicial. The walls are half brick and half dark blue. The brick brings classical design to the room, while the color sets a tone of seriousness. 

The lighting in the room is mostly natural through large stained glass designs in the  windows. The stained glass windows allow natural light to enter the room without letting the outside world become distractions from the frequent movement on the road.

This classroom is designed for discussions and simulations more than lectures due to the fact that there is only a chalk board. There are also two chairs up front, which infer professors are sitting as if they are a judge, which is unusual for lectures. 


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