Jan.19, 2009

Media Contact: Tracy Schario

(202) 994-3566; tschario@gwu.edu

GW Purchases Former Tellabs Building in Loudoun County

Acquisition of Fourth Building at GW's Virginia Campus

To Support Academic and Research Activities

WASHINGTON -- The George Washington University today announced the acquisition of a new building at 45085 University Drive, Ashburn, Va. at the site of its Virginia Campus in Loudoun County. The purchase of the 70,000 square foot building and adjacent land expands the campus to more than 100 acres of land and four buildings, including two constructed by GW (Research I and the National Transportation Safety Board building) and a previous acquisition (Building II). The University will begin renovations to the former Tellabs building, to be renamed Research II, to accommodate academic classrooms, faculty offices, and research space and expects to complete the initial project prior to fall 2009. Additional improvements may be required as existing or new programs are identified to occupy Research II.

"GW's Virginia Campus is an integral component of the University's Strategic Plan for Academic Excellence and serves as a unique environment to develop innovative research and partnerships in response to national and global challenges, as well as to address regional and state priorities," said GW President Steven Knapp.

Craig W. Linebaugh, chief academic operating officer for GW's Virginia Campus, said, "This acquisition further strengthens the University's presence in the Northern Virginia Technology Corridor and will allow for expanded academic and research activities. The Virginia Campus will continue to introduce new degree and executive leadership programs in nursing, engineering, education administration and business, as well as to expand and develop research programs in renewable energy, transportation safety, infrastructure integrity, and high performance computing."

Research II will be occupied in stages with some of the existing research and academic programs relocating to the new building. The University's long-term plans for the Virginia Campus include continued investment in research and academic programs as well as the migration of additional administrative functions currently located on or near GW's Foggy Bottom Campus in Washington, D.C.

The GW Virginia Campus, established in Loudoun County in 1991, is a robust center for innovative research, graduate education, and regional corporate partnerships. As the University's research and technology campus, it hosts a dozen centers of excellence in critical areas such as energy science and technology, transportation safety, and high performance computing. The GW Virginia Campus also combines its research excellence with more than 20 exceptional graduate degree and certificate programs in business, education, and engineering, and unique undergraduate programs in the health sciences.

The GW Virginia Campus also collaborates with on-site organizations such as IJIS, the NTSB, and the renowned Jason Project.  Several University-wide administrative operations also reside at the Virginia Campus. Located at the University Center in Ashburn, the campus is positioned strategically in the Northern Virginia technology corridor near Dulles International Airport.

For more news about the GW Virginia Campus, visit www.gwvirginia.gwu.edu.

For more news about The George Washington University, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org.

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