Georgetown University Law Center is expanding its campus with the purchase of a 130,000-square-foot building near its Washington, D.C., location.

The university purchased the vacant property for $70 million, according to local news reports citing District of Columbia property records, and the school announced Tuesday that it will use the new space for classrooms, offices and other collaborative work areas. It's directly south of the existing law campus, and the school's centers and institutes will relocate to the new space, as will similar programs within Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy and several other universitywide initiatives.

“Over the last decade, we have seen unprecedented growth in our experiential offerings for students across our clinical, externship, practicum and simulation programs, all of which are deeply woven into the Washington, D.C., landscape,” said Georgetown Law dean William Treanor in an announcement of the new building. “Bringing together our centers and institutes in one location will help us prepare the next generation of leaders, by allowing Georgetown students to work across disciplines with top experts addressing critical global issues today.”

The newly acquired building was constructed in 1969 and was previously occupied by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which recently relocated to another Washington-area location.

The addition is partially funded with a $10.5 million gift from law school alum Scott Ginsburg, which is the largest single donation in the law school's history. Ginsburg graduated from Georgetown Law in 1978, before embarking on a career as a radio broadcasting executive and later founding a chain of auto dealerships.

The school is naming four professorships for Ginsburg in recognition of his gift. Ginsburg previously donated to the school's sport and fitness center, which is also named for him.

“The time I spent at Georgetown Law changed my life forever,” Ginsburg said in a statement. “Now, I'm able to return the favor, and transform the law campus. To be a part of these professorships and the transformative legacy they leave behind long after I am gone is the pinnacle of my career.”

The school aims to bring in more private donations to further fund its expansion.

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