The topping out of the new £25m School of Law and Social Justice (SLSJ) building – formerly the Cypress Building – was celebrated at a special ceremony.
The extensive renovation will provide the first home for all SLSJ staff and students, many of whom are currently split across three buildings. It is due to open later this year.
The ceremony was conducted by Executive Pro Vice Chancellor (Humanities & Social Sciences) Professor Fiona Beveridge; Dean of the SLSJ, Professor Debra Morris; University of Law Campus Dean (Chester & Liverpool), Carol Draycott; Head of Department (Law) Professor Warren Barr, and Head of Department (Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology), Professor Ross Coomber.
Speaking at a reception following the ceremony, Professor Beveridge said the new building will help build a SLSJ identity and a sense of belonging. For students, it aims be a welcoming space housing all their lecturers and professional services staff. It will also provide new facilties for students to meet socially and to work. For staff and research students, it will provide collaborative areas and more formal meeting spaces.
The building will be accessible to all and includes a 100-seat events space, where the School will hold research and teaching related events on a weekly basis. It will also house the award winning Liverpool Law Clinic, as well as Interchange, the charity through which Sociology students undertake a whole raft of research projects for third sector organisations every year. Additionally, it will provide accommodation for the University of Law and allow the relationship between the University and University of Law colleagues to grow.
The tradition of ‘Topping Out’ involves wine, for fertility and wisdom; oil, to preserve liberty and prosperity; corn, for ripening into abundance; salt, to instill purity and hospitality within the building; and a Yew branch, to ward off evil spirits; being mixed together in a concrete block.
Executive Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Fiona Beveridge sprinkled the wine, University of Law Campus Dean Carol Draycott sprinkled the oil into the block; Dean of the School Professor Debra Morris added corn; Professor Warren Barr sprinkled salt and Professor Ross Comber placed the sprig of yew on top of the wet concrete. Professor Beveridge and Carol Draycott then filled the block with concrete and levelled it and finally handed the trowel to Debra Morris to give the concrete a final smooth.