One of the most elegant interior spaces on campus, the Yale Law School Library was designed by James Gamble Rogers in 1932. However, by the late 1970's the Library had grown shabby, overcrowded, and noisy with the influx of copying machines. In addition, one of the lecture halls at the school put students at an awkward distance from the speaker. The law school asked us to make both of these spaces more amenable.

We restored the shell of the Library and its rich detailing, shifted the photocopiers to adjacent areas and replaced most of the reading tables with oak carrels and comfortable chairs. We relocated the card catalog to the center of the room for better visibility and access. The new design of the carrels provides task lighting, while up-lighting the lovely, restored painted wood ceiling beams and gargoyle capitals.

We re-oriented the Lecture Hall, placing the speaker in the center of the long wall, which improved both the visual and acoustical relationships of the speaker to the students. Seating is along new stepped and curved platforms. Many elements of the old room were kept including the handsome oak wainscotting and doors, while new elements were added including dropped beams that conceal the lighting, and new furnishings.