Page "Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law" Paragraph 8

Because of inadequate, old facilities, former Dean James Smoot positioned the law school for a move from its building on the University's main campus in East Memphis to a former customs house on the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis.

The new law school campus is more than twice the size of the old campus.

Until purchased by the law school, a portion of the building had been serving as a post office.

Designed by Memphis firm Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects, the new law school is located in the heart of Memphis ' downtown.

Tennessee's governor, Phil Bredesen, has also lent his support and pledged forty-one million dollars in state funds for the move.

Along with the purpose-specific interior redesign, the architect ( Bill Nixon ) oversaw structural renovations, including a $ 2 million seismic retrofit.

The move was officially announced on January 12, 2006, and it was anticipated that the downtown facility would be ready for classes January 2010.