COLLEGE OF LAW
building in downtown Jacksonville, right in the heart of the city’ s bustling legal district. The College of Law is the result of a strategic partnership with the City of Jacksonville, which supplied $ 11.5 million in support. The eight-month renovation project by Auld & White Constructors, TIV Architects and Workscapes revitalized 50,000 square feet of underutilized office space across four floors, transforming the 117-year-old building into a modern law school.
Auld & White took great care to thoughtfully preserve historic features such as the first-floor stairwell and second-floor reception room, complete with original parquet floors and ceiling trim, while blending them seamlessly with modern design elements like a three-story atrium that floods the common areas with natural light. This intentional approach earned the College of Law an Excellence in Construction award in the Historical Restoration / Renovation category at the 2025 Associated Builders & Contractors’ Florida First Coast Chapter’ s annual awards, beating out 55 other entries.
Just blocks away from state and federal courthouses, law firms, and government buildings, the school’ s location offers students unparalleled access to real-world legal experiences— one of Dean Allard’ s seven priorities. The green lanyards students wear when entering these spaces have become a quiet symbol of the bright future of Jacksonville’ s legal community. Judges and attorneys often go out of their way to connect with students, sparking serendipitous learning and opening doors of opportunity.
“ An explosive upside has been the support from the bench and the bar inside Northeast Florida,” said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost.“ Attorneys, corporations,
22 WAV E MAGAZINE | Spring 2026