Utah State Bar Building (formerly Utah State Bar Law and Justice Center)
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Address
645 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Year Completed
1988
Building Type
Location Area
Thru out Salt Lake County
Architect:
Firms and Partnerships
Project Description
An MHTN Architects project data form on the Utah State Bar Law and Justice Center describes the structure: “Concrete spread footing and foundation system supporting a cross-braced structural steel framing system with structural studs at the exterior walls to provide attachment for the exterior precast panels.
Exterior walls: Granite aggregate surfaced architectural pre-cast concrete with bronze insulated glass set in dark bronze aluminum framing system for windows and skylights.”1
The form continues on to give an explanation of the project requirements: “In 1983, the Utah State Bar found that its present 5,700 square foot, three-story pioneer home was inadequate to serve the Bar’s programs, staff of 21 and growing membership of more than 4,000. Furthermore, the Bar Commission recognized its professional responsibility for an expanded continuing Legal Education Program, as well as a statewide responsibility for providing a neutral arena for alternative methods of resolving disputes through arbitration, mediation and conciliation. The courts were overloaded and their calendars backlogged. The Bar wished to take the lead in relieving this congestion.
The Architect was assigned the responsibility for analyzing the functional requirements of the Bar and its potential for growth. The administrative segment of the Bar’s operations was broken down into the areas of Bar Administration, Bar Counsel (the Bar’s self-disciplinary arm) and Law and Justice Center Program Administration.
The Bar Commission desired multiple, flexible meeting rooms that could serve small committee meetings and various sizes of larger functions simultaneously without impacting the day-to-day operations of the Bar staff.
The Architect’s plan expresses these functional differences by placing the administrative operations in the north wing and the assembly activities in the south wing joined by two stories of skylighted reception-lobby and circulation space.
The east and west entrance plazas provide architectural emphasis while providing a platform for public and private functions such as receptions and legal ceremonies.
The First Level of the building provides space for filing, printing-mailing, and staff lounge-kitchen. Provisions are made for daylighting of the future offices in the north wing along with the potential for additional meeting rooms or offices in the south wing.
Short term internal growth is allowed for within each administrative area of the Second and Third levels.
During the period of November 1988 through August 1989, the Law and Justice Center provided space for 813 meetings accommodating 16,250 people. These meetings included bar committees, bar commission, continuing legal education, depositions, arbitrations, mediations, retreats, bar examinations and the Tuesday night bar where volunteer attorneys advice low-income citizens on legal problems.”2
Sources
1. “Project Data Form,” in the file folder “Utah State Bar,” pg. 1, from MHTN Architects, Salt Lake City, Utah.
2. “Project Data Form,” in the file folder “Utah State Bar,” pg. 2, from MHTN Architects, Salt Lake City, Utah.
