When the University of Sydney's Faculty of Law relocates from Phillip Street in the city to its new address on the Camperdown campus, it will have the type of prestigious and well-equipped accommodation deserving of one of the nation's leading law schools.

Where once a CBD location was useful for students completing articles, undergraduate students now undertake a dual degree or enter Law at graduate level, having already obtained an undergraduate degree in another discipline.

With this shift, it is logical to bring the Faculty of Law into the heart of the Camperdown campus, where students will benefit from all that the campus has to offer, including better opportunities for interfaculty collaboration. The new teaching venues will provide high-quality environments for staff and students in the Faculty of Law as well as other campus users, being available to the entire University.

The new Faculty of Law development has been designed by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt), one of Australia's foremost architectural practices. fjmt were responsible for designing the much-awarded Scientia at the University of NSW as well as the University of Sydney's new School of Information Technologies building. The brief for the new building included extending the teaching facilities for undergraduates, creating underground parking so that existing car parking could be removed from Eastern Avenue, and developing open spaces that extend and complement the Public Domain project.

The new Faculty of Law building will be an inviting and defining presence on the edge of the campus. Its location is prestigious within the University's historic centre: opposite the sandstone Quadrangle and next to Fisher Library, right by the main pedestrian thoroughfare through the campus. With a frontage to Victoria Park and the city beyond it, the building will also form a new 'gateway' to the University. Lifted above the ground, the building is an open door rather than a barrier; it reinstates a visual link with the city that was a central part of Professor Leslie Wilkinson's master plan of 1920.

Main office tower
The raised faculty office block includes a multistorey glass bridge forming an 'urban window' between the city and the University. Regardless of which way they face, all offices enjoy excellent views either to the Law Plaza and the Anderson Stuart facade, or to Victoria Park and the city. Throughout the building are breakout spaces, foyers and social areas, also overlooking the campus or Victoria Park and the city beyond. The seven-storey building's facade will consist of two layers of glass containing timber shutters that can be controlled by the building's occupants, providing insulation and shade as well as echoing the appearance of the nearby sandstone buildings. On level three of the tower, an enclosed glass lobby overlooks Victoria Park, the Forecourt and the Quadrangle beyond. The lobby lends itself to many uses, including functions and other gatherings.

General teaching spaces
The general teaching space will accommodate all undergraduate teaching undertaken by the Faculty of Law as well as some Masters coursework. This teaching space will also be available for use by other academic and administrative organisations within the University.

This new building for the Faculty of Law replaces its present site in the Sydney CBD. The new building has a gross floor area of 18,250m2 and occupies a prominent location near several prestigious University buildings, key teaching and library facilities, and the main University pedestrian thoroughfare. In addition, a multi-level below-grade car park for 420 vehicles is included within the building. The car park provides a major opportunity to enhance the public domain in the heart of the campus.