SMU broke ground on its new School of Law building on Monday, at the open space between Armenian Street and Canning Rise. The new 22,000 sqm building – about the size of 52 basketball courts – will be ready by 2017. It will feature the Kwa Geok Choo Law Library, named in memory of the late Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, the David Marshall Moot Court and the SMU Pro Bono Centre. SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer said that planning for the new building began in 2010. When completed, the new premises will not only increase the space, but also help to "foster closer ties among SMU's law students, alumni, and the legal fraternity", he said. He added that SMU is located near the law courts – it is about a kilometre away from the Supreme Court – and various law firms. "The new building... will further promote these links and engagement as it will provide an ideal environment in a convenient location for students, alumni and fraternity to meet and interact."