Sunday, July 13, 2008

MICHIGAN LAW

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL

ANN ARBOR - MAY 2007

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (UM), is a public university founded in 1817 in Detroit, and moved to Ann Arbor in 1837. Michigan Law is the law school of the University, and was founded in 1859. It is regarded as one of the most selective and prestigious law schools in the United States and has an enrolment of 1,200 students. It's also one of seven schools that never appeared outside the top 10 law school rankings of the U.S. News & World Report. In May 2007 I attended a conference there and had the chance to feel the life of the urban campus at Ann Arbor. It was an amazing experience!


"MICHIGAN UNION - At the heart of Central Campus, the most recognizable landmark of the University of Michigan and the most frequented meeting place on the campus, is a state-of-the-art facility that offers a haven for students, faculty, staff and visitors"


"ANGELL HALL was named in honour of James B. Angell who was President of the University of Michigan for 38 years, the longest ever tenure. The 1924 Hall is home to the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts, and provides classrooms, auditoriums, offices, and an Observatory for University of Michigan students and faculty"


"HUTCHINS HALL was named in honour of Harry Burns Hutchins, a former Dean of the Law Department and President of the University of Michigan from 1909-1920. It's the main classroom and administrative building for the Law School, where classrooms and offices, including the Dean's Office, may be found. An amazing pedestrian tunnel connects the basement level of the building to the Legal Research Building"



"THE LAW QUADRANGLE was a gift from William W. Cook, Esq., class of 1882, who, though involved with many aspects of its construction, never came to Ann Arbor either during construction (which took more than a decade, until 1933) or upon completion. It's a marvel!"




"THE LAWYERS CLUB has suites for 260 students; a dining hall with a Gothic ceiling; a lounge; a game room; and direct access to the Law Library and Legal Research Reading Room. A great facility"


"LEGAL RESEARCH is an impressive building housing a campus landmark and the jewel of the Quadrangle: the Reading Room"


"THE READING ROOM - Designed to seat just over 500 patrons, the high vaulted cathedral ceiling, the wonderful stained-glass windows, and the cork floors for quiet walking make the Reading Room a highlight of your visit to the Michigan Law School. The Centre for International and Comparative Law is housed here"


"LAW LIBRARY - The Allan F. and Alene Smith Law Library Addition was opened in 1981 after an interesting discussion on its construction. Everybody agreed that the architecture of the Quadrangle was too precious to be distorted with the inclusion of a new modern building. So the brilliant solution from Gunnar Birkerts was to build the addition below ground to preserve the visual integrity of the Law Quadrangle. It's an outstanding architectural creation that has received numerous awards"



"FROM INSIDE, the view towards the Reading Hall is incredible. And the solution to give natural light to the three caves - light rebounds from the limestone panels on one side and through reflective glass on the other - is a very imaginative one"


"THE LAW LIBRARY holds more than 965,000 volumes, 9,514 periodicals, and has state-of-the-art electronic research. It also has over 200 carrel desks and many large tables. The V-shaped moat along the outside of the glass plates provides daylight for the underground Library"


"LAW OFFICE - When you succeed at the Michigan Law School, you may get at least an office like this..."

***

Titania was so kind to silently pass the Arte Y Pico Award to me. JoAnn was also that kind and let me know that she had passed the Award! I'm truly honoured!



Thank you Titania and JoAnn!

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

A conference at the facilities of the Michigan Law School was the main purpose of my trip to Ann Arbor. It was an amazing experience, and I must confess I was impressed with the sophisticated quality of many of the members of the faculty (many of them spoke at least three or four different languages), and the knowledge they had on international and comparative law; very far from my previous experience in the United States. However, nothing that the reading of the “Michigan Law Review” would not anticipate!
Though a bit «technical», I hope you’ll enjoy this first (and for the time being, only) post on a University campus! Have a great week!

Nikon said...

Great pictures, Gil. The place looks fabulous with the old architecture styles & the greenery.
Really gorgeous - not just poured cement like so many American institutions.
The Reading Room is amazing.

JO said...

Some great shots - looks like quite the marvelous building....

SusuPetal said...

I liked the architect. Beautiful houses, almost castles.
Have a nice week, Gil.

Mariposa said...

oh wow!! I would say I loved the reading room, but then I saw the law library..it's all gorgeous! and the weather looks nice as well..the sun really brought out the green of the plants.

I'll be posting the Redang Island pics sometime soon. I just got back about 1.5 hours ago. I had a great time there!

Have a great week =)

Dina said...

Thanks for this, GMG. So exciting to see my alma mater after 40 years. I still remember the classes I had in Angell Hall, in fact, one was Biblical Hebrew. And many good times in the MUG cafe in the Michigan Union. We simple Liberal Arts students didn't have much to do with the law students and their turf, and the engineers were a different "species" altogether. LOL But the Law buildings were the most beautiful. I always felt that this was what Europe would look like if I ever got to Europe.
Glad you got a good impression of the studies at UM and enjoyed the place.
Congratulations on your Arte y Pico award. Well deserved.

Lakshmi said...

What a wonderful place to study and wow...what a reading room..My father is an advocate here and I must share this post with him ..

S-V-H said...

Hi Gil,

this is another very interesting post of yours.

And again, this University of Law in Michigan reminds me now to the University of Princeton in New Jersey. The outside architecture for the most.

I had the chance in 1999 to do there some fashion shootings - it was big fun and the people there were so nice to me.

I like in your post also the architectural combination between old and new. Great shots!

Thanks for your kind comment on my blog. :-)

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Fantastic shots Gil,

I am so glad you accepted the award because you truly deserve it, as this arty church pic's ("FROM INSIDE, the view towards the Reading Hall) are prooving that talent to me again!....I am very impressed by this, tho I always like a creative way of looking at EVERYTHING in life.

This week I'll post some photo's and at the end we'll leaving for FRANCE I will keep you informed so keep watching please.

Have a good time ! See you in August (through our blogs)
Greetings JoAnn from Holland

Anonymous said...

A very impressive school. Nice photos. Have a great week!

Best,
Paz

Ron said...

Great pictures once again. The Michigan Union is a beautiful building. It is the backdrop of many Saturday afternoons when I watch college football.

Your blog is wonderful, definately the best I've seen. Thanks for visiting mine and commenting. You are welcome to comment anytime.

lv2scpbk said...

I really like that reading room. It's spectacular. I like how you took the photos from inside looking out and seeing the windows. Also the law library is wonderful. I read your comment in your last post.

Anonymous said...

Very nice. I am impress with the school. :)

Alexander
Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

indicaspecies said...

Oh yes, this post is of extra interest to me.
UM does indeed seem like a haven for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
May I ask what law office is the one in the last picture?
Superb pictures Gil, each and everyone.
Thank you for sharing and congratulations on another well deserved Award.

Noushy Syah said...

Nice shots with gr8 atmosphere.Combination of old and new architectures with lovely green ambience make this UM a gr8 place to study!

You are lucky to be there personally and had the opportunity to capture such amazing place.

p/s a picnic under the tree (near Hutchins Hall)would be nice..tehehhe

Anonymous said...

Hi Gil, How I would love to sit in that reading room for a while. It was nice seeing the perspective from a non US person. Stunning campus! I don't know why I hadn't done this before but (if it's ok with you) I added your blog to my list of "take me away blogs" to read. I think others on my list should have the chance to visit your wonderful blog. Have a great week. ~ Lynn

Jane Hards Photography said...

This looks like a perfcet setiing to study. Beatiful biliding which you have photographed superbly. Favoirite has to be the reflections. It was ineresting to read Dina thoughts on the place after so many years.

Emery Roth said...

The tour continues. Isn't the Lawyers' Club modeled after one of the buildings at Oxford? Very interesting solution for the new law library. My first life was spent in architecture. If I was supposed to find a comment somewhere here, I haven't found it yet, but I've enjoyed the visit.

alicesg said...

Hi trotter, wow the university really looked very impressive and beautiful. The buildings are so well built architecturally. Love the designs. Make good pictures.

Azer Mantessa said...

i can feel your amazing experience and that you attendeda conference there is awesome

i really don't mind the law office.

congratulations on the award!

Pietro Brosio said...

A wonderful and very interesting post.
I am putting your site in my blogroll with name "Gil" and title "Blogtrotter".
Have a great week!

 gmirage said...

Congratulations on your 401 post!!!

Those are impressive architecture! Interiors are beautiful as well....

Dalicia said...

i've been here...while visiting friends. they're famous for engineering and football.

PeterParis said...

Very nice installation! My preference goes of course to the Quadrangle Reading Room!

Voegtli said...

It is amazing how impressive this institution looks like. So different from the ones in my country. Has it to do with America being so big and Switzerland so small? :-)

Lori said...

Enjoyed the visit to the law school! I especially like the photo of the reading room. I'm sure that place has seen many hours of dedicated studying! (It reminds me a little of the reading room in the main branch of the New York Public Library.)

Steve Buser said...

Seems like visiting you blog and vicariously visiting some other realm in this world has become a daily pastime of mine. I think I am going to make sure from here on that I have a cup of coffee with me so I can slow down and savor the tour.

Thank you for your kin comments on http://NewOrleansDailyPhoto.blogspot.com

This week I have a new batch of bird photos to show. Today, Momma zooms in between the trees, belly full and ready to feed her brood.

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

Nice architecture in Michigan too!
--JB

Shionge said...

I have wanted to ask you about your visit there and what a place to have the conference there.

It has always been my wish to be a student all over again in a Uni overseas but right now, just have to wait and wonder if I could ever accomplish it.

Anyway, nice tour of the Uni I've enjoyed it :D

Dawning One said...

Love the reading room, Gil but it must be a real bugger of a thing to keep warm with such vast open spaces. congrats on your award and thanks for always visiting Dawningone blogspot

Anonymous said...

I always envy your job and you both.
What lovely pictures of wonderful architecture.
I especially liked the 1st picture covered with green.

Cuckoo

Unknown said...

Definitely love the architecture, and the 1st picture is my favourite too. I envy your job!!!

:)

Lara said...

impressive building, well captured! thanks for visiting my page! have a great week!

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Cela donne envie de commencer des etudes juridiques !

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Cela donne envie de commencer des etudes juridiques !

Indrani said...

Whoa! What a place to have conference! Beautiful series of pictures too.

raccoonlover1963/Lisa Myers said...

Sorry just now getting around to your post. I love the old buildings, especially the ones with ivy climbing the walls. The reading room puts me in mind of the "great hall" at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies.
Thanks for your continued visits to my blog.
Lisa

Ash said...

Impressive architecture. Fantastic images!

lyliane six said...

Tous les immeubles ressemblent beaucoup à Oxford et la salle de lecture à la salle de classe du film Harry Potter. Tout cela fait très vieille Angleterre.

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

I loved the gorgeous buildings... I never tire of looking at your photos... they don't seem to build the buildings like they use to... take care

Chris said...

Ola, Gil!
Lo siento que no he estado por una-dos semanas. Estaba preocupada con la preparacion para las clases y con todo de mi esposo.

And, I return and find you at MICHIGAN! AUGH. (I did my grad work in Spanish at Ohio State. GO, BUCKS!)

Well, my football prejudices aside, the Michigan campus is beautiful!

And, since I am immersed in school right now, I will agree with your comment that sometimes, faculties can be amazing.

Miss Kim said...

Oh how I want to live in that library!!! You have some awesome shots there Gil! How wonderful that you get to travel to so many interesting places!

My Unfinished Life said...

hi there
nice pics....and very impressive eduational institution !!!
college life is one of the most interesting and eventful time of any one's life....i think good educational institutes are a mixture or good academics,right culutral and intellectual environment and sound infrastructure...
your post reminds me of my college..School of Planning and Architecture...one of the best in Asia for architecture and planning studies...i had a blast of a time!!!..and what i learned there has been serving me all through my professional career...

Olivier said...

bravo pour ton award, c'est largement méritè. Encore une belle visite, l'architecture est vraiment tres belle, j'aime beaucoup.

Ming the Merciless said...

The inside view of the Law Library is amazing. I love the floating staircase. The contemporary architecture is such a contrast to the old buildings around it.

So what do you think of the litigious climate of the US law system or societal character? I assume people in Portugal are less trigger happy with law suits, right?

NormanTheDoxie said...

Never been to Michigan but it does look nice. Happy to see Starbucks on Main Street.

The Mrs. looks great too!!!

CaBaCuRl said...

What an inspirational environment Ann Arbor must be.....and the Reading Room was simply breath-taking...definitely my favourite of what you showed us. You sure get around GMG, & thanks for taking us with you!

Dan said...

I have been on the campus many times. It is quite beautiful and you have done a great job of capturing the beauty. It is particularly spectacular in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.

The older construction in particular is kind of a humanist shrine to learning. That is why so many of the buildings have a cathedral like quality. The newer buildings are much more modern in their design.

Nice set of pics!

Joy said...

I love the buildings - so full of history. And some of your shots were taken at interesting angles, too.

Many thanks for your visits to Norwich Daily Photo. I hope that you enjoy the colours of summer on my blog.

joy

Anonymous said...

Hi everybody! Thanks for your visits and comments. Sorry once again for the incredible delay in replying to your comments, but these days have been absolutely frantic… And the problem is that it doesn’t seem to calm down during the next weeks… Wish great holidays to everybody having the chance to enjoy them now!!

Paul,
Jo,
It’s an incredible place, the campus, the buildings and the Law School itself…

Susupetal,
It could be a castle, but with some very interesting people inside… ;))

Mariposa,
The underground library is a stunning project! Sorry for not having visited you at Redang, but I’ll do it asap!

Dina,
Glad to see that you enjoyed it. I may concede that for Liberal Arts students law people may seem a bit weird, but the scheme doesn’t apply everywhere; certainly not in Portugal, before 1974… ;)) And I agree that the Law buildings are the most beautiful…

Lakshmi,
I’m sure your father will enjoy the view of the Law buildings, including the amazing underground library!

Sue,
Princeton has one of the top Law schools in the US, but I’ve never had the chance to stop by! The mix of old and new is amazing at the UM campus!

JoAnn,
Thanks! I was somehow caught by that incredible underground Library…
Hope you have a great French holiday!

Paz,
Thanks!

Ron,
I can imagine as the Stadium is not far from the Michigan Union building! Thanks for your words; I’ll try to catch up your posts early August, if all this mess here will allow me!

Barb,
Thanks! That underground building is awesome!

Alex,
It’s quite impressive!

Celine,
Didn’t check the name; just that it was a law office! ;))

Noushy Syah,
There was no picnic, but they installed a tent for an evening reception (with nice wines) under the trees… ;))

Lynn,
I agree that’s a stunning campus…
Thanks for including me on your link list. I’m truly honoured!

Babooshka,
Thanks for your visit and comment (first time here, I think)! The building is amazing!

Ted,
Actually the Lawyers Club could be somewhere in England, Oxford included! And the new library solution is impressive even for a non expert!

Alice SG,
It’s actually impressive and beautiful!

Azer,
Never mind the law office; professional distortion… ;))

Pietro,
Thanks! I’m honoured!

Gizelle,
Thanks!

Dalicia,
So you also know the place! But their Law School is also famous… not only engineering and what is absurdly called football in the US (a sport played with the hands…) ;))

Peter,
That Reading Room is a sure bet!

Pete,
I’m not so sure that the size makes the difference… ;))

Lori,
It’s true that the NY Public Library main reading room has some similarities with the one in Ann Arbor!

Steve,
Thanks! I’m sorry it takes more time than I would wish to update Blogtrotter!
I’ll try to catch up your birds asap!

JB,
Also in Michigan? Why not… ;))

Shionge,
Never too late… ;)

Dawning One,
It’s a wonderful room, but I agree it would probably have a high degree of energy consumption… In particular if they follow the usual US pattern to warm it in the winter in such a way that you won’t be able to wear anything more than a short sleeves shirt and to cool it ion summer in such a way that you need a sweatshirt! ;))

Cuckoo,
Don’t be envious… Just think you have so much time ahead to see so many beautiful places… ;))

M. Kate,
Envious? Not until I’ve been to Angkor… ;))

Lara,
You’re quite right!

Daniel,
Bienvenu au groupe!

Indrani,
Thanks!

Lisa,
The ivy on the walls is amazing! Interesting your connection with Hogwarts!! ;))

Ash,
Thanks!

Lyliane,
C’est vrai que tout ça ressemble beaucoup la Vieille Angleterre!

Fliss & Mike,
Amazing that my father makes use of the same expression you utilized: «they don't seem to build the buildings like they use to»… But I think that we must pay some attention to what is built nowadays… ;))

Chris,
Hope everything is running better now!
Oh, so you’re also a «football» fan… amazing sport! I also love football, but the one played with the feet… ;))

Kim,
It’s a great place!

Shooting Star,
Glad to bring you back the memories of a wonderful time you had in school!

Olivier,
Merci!

Ming,
The new library is a stunning solution!
I wouldn’t be that sure about the degree of litigation in Portugal when compared with the US, though we do not allow the «contingency fees» that made litigation famous in some States… ;)

Lisa (Citygirl),
Not so keen on Starbucks, but I’m not a coffee drinker… ;))

Cabacurl,
Agree with you that the Reading Room is breathtaking!

Dan,
I’ve to get there in Fall! But I think I would try New England for the autumn colours! The «humanist shrine to learning» is a great expression to qualify the Reading Room!

Joy,
Thanks! I’ll try to see you summer colours asap!

Anonymous said...

Came across your photos while looking for information on, among other things, what the stained glass windows depict and what kind of bat it was that used to (still does?) occasionally swoop around the wrought iron chandeliers in the reading room, a welcome distraction from our case books.(Research for a novel I'm working on). Lovely remembrances of my old alma mater, a place that shaped me as surely as any place I've lived.

Anonymous said...

Meg,
Thanks for commenting while dropping by. I'm sure the Director of the Law School told me about the stined glass windows, but I'm sorry I can't reproduce what he said... ;(