2002
Constructing a Framework for the Future
University Plans Wisely for New Buildings, Existing
Resources
By Thom
Kohout
If you take a short walk on GWs campus, along
Pennsylvania Avenue to the north, F Street to the south, 19th and 24th
streets to the east and west respectively, even the least observant
person will notice that GW is in the midst of a great deal of capital
development. In the past year, two of the Universitys largest
ventures in 20 years (the Media and Public Affairs Building and the
Health and Wellness Center) opened their doors to the public, and several
other projects are close on the horizon. What many people may not recognize
is the measured and targeted approach the University takes toward growth
and development and how each project is selected to best meet the needs
of the student and academic communities.
The Universitys plan is to provide a strong
framework that guides the physical maturing of the Foggy Bottom campus
during the next 10 years in terms of land use, open space, density of
development, traffic and pedestrian circulation systems, and connections
with the surrounding community. The plan also proposes the University
maintain its strategy of establishing a campus feel by relocating schools
and programs into single buildings or building clusters to create a
unified central campus core.
Bricks and mortar are really a metaphor for
what goes on inside the building, says President Stephen Joel
Trachtenberg, adding the goal of each project is to enhance the academic
experience. I think we have, in the last 10 years or so, moved
up in terms of aggressiveness of the faculty with their scholarly output,
their standing in their respective disciplines.
Our decisions to build are driven first by need,
explains Vice President and Treasurer Louis Katz. Second its
driven by our funding. The two have to match. If we dont have
a need, were not just going to build something just because we
have funding.
Beacuase the University has a limited amount of space
to work with, says Roger Lyons, executive director of facilities, GW
has to be very careful with how it manages this limited resources.
Whenever the University builds something,
says Lyons, we have to give a lot of thought to how well it responds
not only to current needs, but also whether it has the flexibility to
meet the potentially differing needs over the decades or generations.
Chief among the Universitys current needs is
campus housing. DCs Board of Zoning Adjustment has tough requirements
on the amount of on-campus development pending the addition of undergraduate
housing. To help meet those requirements, GW filed applications with
the DC Zoning Commission for two new residence hall projects. Hearings
for the projects are scheduled for Dec. 6.
Were trying to think through a swift and
dramatic affirmative response to the community desire that we house
additional students in University facilities, Trachtenberg says.
The larger of the two projects is a 700-plus bed facility
to be constructed on square 43, bounded by 23rd and 24th Streets, G
Street, and Virginia Avenue across from the Health and Wellness Center.
We are targeting a facility with 700-plus beds
and two levels of parking underneath containing 88 spaces, says
Lyons. It will have three retail venues and a Provisions Market
on the lower level.
The striking facade of the 10-story building features
a substantial amount of precast concrete elements on the 23rd Street
side. Because the building serves as the first sign of campus seen by
pedestrians and traffic traveling north up 23rd Street, special attention
was taken to develop an attractive element to herald the entrance to
the University.
President Trachtenberg was very interested in
using the Virginia Avenue/23rd Street facade as an opportunity to announce
the entrance onto the campus, explains Michelle Honey, director
of architecture, engineering, and construction. So were
looking at using panels with the GW medallion very much like what we
used in the Health and Wellness Center.
Across 23rd Street from the proposed square 43 building
is an eight townhouse project to be built on a parking lot behind the
Smith Center, known as square 57. The site will hold 204 beds.
The new thing now is whats called Affinity Housing,
says Michael Peller, managing director for business services, referring
to the Universitys plan for the row houses. It refers to
any kind of special group, from a fraternity to an honors project. The
Universitys goal is to provide housing that will attract special
groups.
The houses will be set up very much like traditional
townhouses with the ground floor housing the kitchen, living room, and
dining room; the lower level will have a rec room and laundry facilities;
and the upper three floors each will hold a pair of two bedroom suites
with shared bathrooms accommodating a total of eight students. A unique
element will be four shared elevators between every other unit making
the four-story structures fully ADA compliant.
The University can expect just under 200 beds as part
of the Elliott School of International Affairs new seven-story
building under construction at the corner of E and 19th Streets. The
building will also contain additional classrooms, facilities for executive
education programs, and retail dining services. This project is currently
under review by the Zoning Commission and would be formally added to
the campus if approved.
We need to reach a certain number of undergraduates
housed on campus, says Peller about the recent residence hall
projects. Weve expanded our bed count somewhat dramatically.
Between 1957 E St., and the square 43 and 57 buildings, were adding
close to 1,200 beds over the next several years.
Peller explains that in addition to the new construction,
the University has engaged many efforts to maximize the bed count, such
as increasing capacity in the Hall on Virginia Avenue by converting
some of the double rooms into triples, as well as leasing space at City
Hall and Pennsylvania House.
Also in the planning and permitting stage is a new
building for the School of Business and Public Management and renovations
to Funger Hall. The new building will include parking spaces below grade,
a large auditorium, seven tiered classrooms, a Capital Markets Lab,
flat classrooms, and labs. The Zoning Commission is expected to hear
the Universitys petition for a building permit Dec. 13.
What were trying to do is link the buildings
and use the rhythm of Funger, not necessarily the same material or texture
but at least the same color, to continue on through the facade of the
building, says Honey. The entrance to the building will
have a bold new, business look.
If you look at the building from the side,
adds Lyons, it has an element that becomes almost a lighthouse
or a lantern if you are coming north on 22nd Street. While it doesnt
announce the edge of campus like the residence hall on square 43, it
does offer an impressive visual image.
The architecture is designed to remind visitors that
this represents the professional aspect of the campus opposite the Law
School to the east. The two are connected by the Mid-Campus Quad, creating
a strong spine for the campus.
Adding a Great Hall
The Marvin Center construction project will be finished and ready for
operation this spring, completing more than two years worth of additions
and renovations to the five-story, 348,000-square-foot structure. The
original concept of the project encompassed two goals providing
improved handicapped access while establishing a more graceful entrance
along 21st Street.
Says Lyons of the impending completion, It transforms
a building that was very difficult for a disabled person to access,
to one where virtually every feature will be accessible to everyone.
Initial renovations to the facility completed prior to the 2000 academic
year added a post office, an expanded computer lab, new facilities for
the radio station, additional food venues, and a copying and business
center on the lower level.
The ongoing construction will add a 20,000-square-foot,
three-level addition that will provide the bookstore with street-level
access and visibility. The addition involves changes to the ground floor,
first floor, and third floor. On the ground floor there will be a new
sales area for the bookstore as well as construction of a grand interior
space The Great Hall. Featured in the hall will be President
Trachtenbergs column a Corinthian column with elaborate
hand-painting, lighted from above and a wall to display the plaques
for the Universitys Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award recipients.
Directly above the Great Hall will be a new ballroom accessed from the
third floor.
Hopes for the Old Hospital
A question on the minds of many in the University community is the fate
of the old hospital. The replacement facility is targeted for completion
in summer 2002. Once that building goes online, all eyes will turn to
the original building. The site could potentially house in excess of
one million square feet, accommodating many needs including commercial,
residential, student, and academic.
In the best of all possible worlds it would
be quite splendid to have something that had some commercial space,
some retail, some residential, some academic, and some student housing,
says Trachtenberg of the future of the hospital site. How much
and what mix it might have will depend on ultimately how many square
feet we can develop and thats probably going to take imaginative
architects working with a team of University developers to try and come
up with something.
Katz adds, Weve got preliminary analysis
about the size of what can be built on that site, but its going
to be subject to zoning, its going to be subject to need, and
its going to be subject to working with an outside developer.
Were looking at various scenarios, but no decisions have been
made at this juncture.
Making the Campus More
Amenable
With the cooperation of the District and the community, GW has enhanced
the landscaping of the campus and its surrounding area. Groundskeepers
have gone to great lengths to create tranquil spots for the campus and
the neighboring community to reflect and take in the beauty of this
urban environment.
I think, frankly, the place is prettier. I think
its a more attractive campus. Weve paid more attention to
amenities and I think its helped, says Trachtenberg.
Throughout the campus visitors find weeping cherry
trees, fragrant wisteria, colorful perennials and annuals, and the rose
garden with more than 850 varieties of roses. The University plans to
continue the current approach of strengthening, expanding, and linking
existing open spaces through a series of walkways and mid-block pedestrian
street crossings to enhance pedestrian safety on campus.
The presidents idea with any facility
plan is to build a sense of community and a unique identity, says
Katz. Part of that comes from people walking through this campus
and knowing theyre on The George Washington University campus.
I traveled to Washington many times before I came to GW. And many times
I walked on this campus without even knowing it there was nothing
wrong with the campus it was safe and everything else
but it was basically a confederation of buildings. There was no central
theme to it, there werent things that designated the campus, that
gave it a campus feel. Everything we try to do in our facilities plan
is to help build a better sense of community. Were obviously interested
in the functionality in what we build, but were also building
a sense of community.
Send feedback
to: bygeorge@gwu.edu