Columbia Law School opened the doors to its Li Lu Law Library, thanks to the largest-ever single donation to the institute, which cut the ribbon on the redesigned space in a Dec. 5 ceremony.
The $15 million donation financed the 50,000 square foot space, which sets more than 600 and features a two-story reading room.
Architectural firm Perkins Eastman designed the project.
Li, founded and chairs global investment firm Himalaya Capital. He graduated from Columbia in 1996 with a B.A., MBA and J.D., making him the university’s first student to earn three degrees simultaneously.
He also served as a member of the Columbia University’s board of trustees from 2007 to 2024.
Li helped reveal the redesign at the early December event.
“I hope this library will provide a hope, a place, a sanctuary for all of you to continue your journey,” the alumnus donor told students.
Before enrolling at Columbia, Li, who was born in China, was invited to speak at the school about his experience as a student leader of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
“In a community like this, representation is not symbolic. It is the way our community tells you that you belong. And I hope that by associating my name to that, it will really inspire and encourage those of you whose path echoes some part of my own.”
Across group study rooms, pods, carrels and tables, the new library’s capacity is more than 60% greater than it was in its previous form.
Daniel Abebe, dean of the law school, spoke to the new facility’s future-looking functionality.
“For the first time in our history, we have a library that so wonderfully meets the needs of our community today, yet is able to evolve to meet the aspirations of our community tomorrow,” Abebe said at the ribbon cutting.
“For our students, the Li Lu Law Library provides space to study and learn, both individually and collaboratively. For our faculty and our scholars, it provides access to a research collection of unparalleled depth and breadth. And for our librarians and staff, it provides an environment worthy of the excellent work that all of you do.”
