Mount Vernon Campus Looks Forward to Exciting New Residence Facility

By Brenda Hillyer, Director of Development, University Programs

The George Washington University is poised to vitally enhance residential and student life on its Mount Vernon Campus, fondly called "The Vern" by students at GW. The University plans to replace Pelham Hall, a residential facility built in 1971, with a new building that offers both residential accommodations and an extraordinary array of student activity spaces.

Situated in northwest Washington, the Mount Vernon Campus is a fully integrated component of the University. Every day, 1,500 students move back and forth between the two campuses via shuttles that run every five to ten minutes. Home to the Women's Leadership Program and the nationally acclaimed Interior Design Program, the Campus also boasts a Language Café, a strong research library with a friendly, nurturing, student-centered ambiance, a Writing Center, a Math and Science Study Center,  and 180 course sections in a full range of subjects. Strong cooperation between academic and student life planning on the Mount Vernon Campus produces attractions such as the French Film Fest and a Speaker Series on current issues.

Many of GW's athletic departments are located on the Mount Vernon Campus and play their home games there: Men and Women's Tennis, Men and Women's Soccer, Women's Lacrosse, and Women's Softball. In addition, a number of GW's teams, including volleyball, use facilities at Mount Vernon to train for their seasons. Home games attract a wide range of GW students to the campus who come from the downtown campus to support their fellow students.

Today, 427 students live on the "The Vern." Campus residency will increase by 40% with the construction of the new building.

Beyond A Residence Hall

The new building will be a residence hall, but it will also be so much more!

Plans for the building include community kitchens; a fitness center; a black box theater for student productions; a music practice room; a digital media room; studio art space; and, possibly, a dance studio. A large dining room, with flexible seating that allows for informal or organized activity, will also be a prominent feature of the new building.
Living spaces will consist of 287 single rooms grouped in clusters of four, offering highly sought-after private accommodations that also allow communal living.

"Because of the smaller campus environment at Mount Vernon, I felt a much stronger sense of community," says student Corbb O'Connor. "The Pelham Replacement Project will allow even more students to enjoy what Mount Vernon has to offer socially, individually, and academically. Instead of students leaving campus for their social events, this will keep them close to home more often."

"We are all enormously excited about the new facility, which will continue to develop our dynamic campus community," says Fred Siegel, associate vice president and dean of freshmen, Mount Vernon Campus. "With the great new student meeting spaces, theater, arts center, and fitness center, we can enhance overall campus life while adding fabulous living accommodations for a new generation of residents."

Groundbreaking for the new dormitory is scheduled for fall 2008. The University is seeking private contributions for this facility, which includes many attractive naming opportunities. Parents of students at GW are invited to be a part of this exciting endeavor. For more information on the new residence hall, contact Brenda Hillyer, Director of Development, University Programs, at 202-994-6418 or bhillyer@gwu.edu.

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