Core Campus Project

Another section of the Core Campus Project set to open

Melanie Balog — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 18:48:26 +0000

Another section of the Core Campus Project set to open Melanie Balog Wed, 10/27/2021 - 14:48

A large area of green space anchored by a new amphitheater is scheduled to open this week in the center of George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus.

The removal of fencing along a good portion of the north side of Wilkins Plaza will provide access to the space, which marks another major milestone in the Core Campus Project.

“I am thrilled,” said Cathy Pinskey, program director at Mason Facilities. “Having the amphitheater is a big deal as an expanded area for student engagement in the center of campus, which we really haven’t had before.”

The amphitheater will have wall seating, tables, chairs, event power sources and accessible Wi-Fi.

The green space will include some of the 35 overcup oak trees that are being planted to replace the trees that were taken out to make room for the expanded plaza. The trees are in grassy areas, as opposed to being surrounded by concrete, as were the trees there previously.

Some of those trees were repurposed to create the wood benches in Horizon Hall.

“As they mature they won’t get root-bound, which is what happened to the trees before,” Pinskey said. “We’re improving what is there to make them last longer.”

Completion of the Core Campus Project is expected by the Spring 2022 semester, when work on Harris Theatre, a meditation labyrinth, and a dining patio next to SUB I are finished.

The Core Campus Project, which includes Horizon Hall, the redesigned Wilkins Plaza and the Enslaved People of George Mason Memorial, has already changed the energy in the center of the campus, Pinskey said.

“You walk around the center part of the campus and it’s always populated by students, faculty and staff, sitting at the tables and on the benches, or sitting on the wall of the fountain,” she said. “It really has provided a whole new outdoor feature that didn’t exist before in a way that it does today.”

A view of the amphitheatre on the north side of Wilkins Plaza. Photo by Cathy Pinskey

Topics

Core Campus Project

Campus News

Construction

Campus Improvements (Construction)

Chilled Water Outage in SUB I: May 21–24

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 20 May 2021 16:39:31 +0000

Chilled Water Outage in SUB I: May 21–24 Lauren Reuscher Thu, 05/20/2021 - 12:39

A chilled water shutdown will be in effect in SUB I from Friday, May 21, at 5 p.m. until Monday, May 24, at 10 a.m. The shutdown will affect the air conditioning. Building occupants will notice warmer temperatures inside the building during this time.

For questions, contact Cathy Pinskey at cwolfe4@gmu.edu.

Topics

Campus Improvements (Construction)

Core Campus Project

Pathway Changes on Fairfax Campus: May 2021

Lauren Reuscher — Mon, 03 May 2021 14:22:46 +0000

Pathway Changes on Fairfax Campus: May 2021 Lauren Reuscher Mon, 05/03/2021 - 10:22

Several pathway changes will go into effect in May as work continues on the Core Campus project.

Wilkins Plaza
Most construction fencing will be removed from Wilkins Plaza during the week of May 3. Fencing will remain around the center of the plaza where a new fountain and the Enslaved People of George Mason Memorial will be installed in June.

Aquia Creek Lane and Mason Pond Parking Deck
The traffic circle between Mason Pond Parking Deck and Wilkins Plaza will be converted to a new outdoor event area. Construction fencing will be installed during the week of May 3. The Mason Pond Parking Deck entrance/exit at Aquia Creek Lane will be closed starting the week of May 17 until classes resume in August. Intermittent lane closures will be in effect on Aquia Creek Lane this summer.

Stairway between Mason Pond Parking Deck and the de Laski Performing Arts Building
This stairway will be closed starting the week of May 10. Pedestrians should use the stairs or elevator in the parking deck as an alternate route. An accessible entrance to the de Laski Performing Arts Building will be available on the south side of the building. Signage will be in place to guide pedestrians through these areas.

Topics

Core Campus Project

Construction

Campus Improvements (Construction)

Enslaved People of George Mason Memorial

Demolition of Robinson Hall B and Pathway Changes on Wilkins Plaza

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 17:10:16 +0000

Demolition of Robinson Hall B and Pathway Changes on Wilkins Plaza Lauren Reuscher Wed, 03/24/2021 - 13:10

The demolition of Robinson Hall B will start on Monday, March 29, and is expected to continue through Friday, May 28. An excavator will be delivered to the Fairfax Campus on Thursday, March 25, blocking one lane of traffic on Aquia Creek Lane for a short period of time before it is moved to the work site.

Horizon Hall occupants should expect increased noise around April 12, when demolition will start on the east side of Robinson B.

Pathway changes will also occur on Wilkins Plaza from March 29 to April 30:

The pathway on the north side of the plaza will be closed from Mason Pond Parking Deck toward Harris Theatre and Horizon Hall.
An ADA accessible route will be available on the south side of the plaza from Mason Pond Parking Deck toward de Laski Performing Arts Building and the Johnson Center. Pedestrians will need to go through the Johnson Center to move east/west across the plaza.

Detour signage will be in place to guide pedestrians through the area.

Topics

Campus Improvements (Construction)

Core Campus Project

Wilkins Plaza

Wilkins Plaza Pathway Changes

Lauren Reuscher — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 21:05:07 +0000

Wilkins Plaza Pathway Changes Lauren Reuscher Tue, 11/24/2020 - 16:05

Starting Monday, Nov. 30, the construction fencing on Wilkins Plaza will be expanded between the Johnson Center and Horizon Hall to facilitate work related to the Core Campus project. To pass through the area, pedestrian traffic will follow a detour from the East Plaza (between the Johnson Center and David King Hall) toward Southside. The curved pathway south of Fenwick Library will be available to reach Fenwick Library and points further north.

Those requiring an accessible route to travel east from the Mason Pond Parking Deck should use the path between SUB I and Aquia. Those requiring an accessible route to the Johnson Center should park in the Buchanan Hall lot.

For questions on these pathway impacts, contact Michelle Gettle at mgettle@gmu.edu or Cathy Pinskey at cwolfe4@gmu.edu.

Lane Closure on Aquia Creek Lane through Oct. 28

Lauren Reuscher — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 14:11:04 +0000

Lane Closure on Aquia Creek Lane through Oct. 28 Lauren Reuscher Tue, 09/29/2020 - 10:11

Update as of Oct. 14, 2020: This lane closure will be in effect through Oct. 28.

One lane of traffic will be closed on Aquia Creek Lane.

Signage will be placed and flaggers will direct traffic to and from the Mason Pond Parking Garage.

Contact Michelle Gettle, Facilities, at mgettle@gmu.edu with questions.

Pedestrian Detour between Fenwick Library and SUB I

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 20:51:29 +0000

Pedestrian Detour between Fenwick Library and SUB I Lauren Reuscher Thu, 09/24/2020 - 16:51

A section of sidewalk along the west side of Fenwick Library near the SUB I quad is currently closed to facilitate work for the Core Campus project. Pedestrians will need to walk around the fencing toward SUB I to pass through the area.

This pedestrian detour is expected to be in place until late October. Detour signage is in place.

For questions, contact Cathy Pinskey at cwolfe4@gmu.edu or Michelle Gettle at mgettle@gmu.edu.

Wilkins Plaza and Horizon Hall create new ways to connect

Lauren Reuscher — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Wilkins Plaza and Horizon Hall create new ways to connect Lauren Reuscher Fri, 08/21/2020 - 05:00

If you have not been through the center of George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus lately, you’ll notice a lot has changed. While campus was quiet this summer, many changes took shape for the Core Campus Project.

The east side of Wilkins Plaza near David King Hall and Southside is now fully open. Improvements to the plaza include new student voice walls, a slate wall for chalking, new tables and chairs, and smart poles that provide WiFi, lighting, and power connections. The smart poles will be illuminated in Mason green and gold with the ability to change colors for special events and holidays.

The exterior of Horizon Hall is fully enclosed with building materials, and interior finishing work is underway. The installation of furniture and audiovisual equipment should start in November. Horizon Hall is planned to open for classes for the spring 2021 semester.

Due to COVID-19, the Core Campus Project encountered some delays through supply chain disruptions and workforce availability.

Cathy Pinskey, program director for Facilities, said supply chain issues mainly occurred early in the pandemic.

“There were a number of companies that had closed in nearby states that made it difficult to get some of the exterior enclosure materials for the building on site,” she said.

Despite these issues, project teams have done everything possible to remain close to schedule.

Horizon Hall will be the new home for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The six-story, 218,000-square-foot building will hold classrooms, community spaces, a Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX), and many of CHSS’s departments and interdisciplinary programs.

This fall should be the last semester for Robinson Hall B, which will be demolished once Horizon Hall is occupied. The Robinson B site will be used for a new outdoor amphitheater and courtyard.

There is one notable absence amid all the new additions to Wilkins Plaza: the George Mason statue, which moved to a temporary location on Holton Plaza earlier this summer.

Utility infrastructure work will now begin on the west side of Wilkins Plaza. Pinskey said these improvements will include a new water feature, the Enslaved People of George Mason Memorial, and the return of the George Mason statue on a new base.

Elements of the old plaza will be given a new life within the project. “Lumber from the trees removed from Wilkins Plaza last year has been saved and reused to build benches in Horizon Hall,” Pinskey said.

When asked about her favorite features of the Core Campus Project, Pinskey highlighted the different engagement spaces being developed.

“The outdoor spaces we are creating at the core of campus will provide significant opportunities for engagement among Mason students, faculty, staff and community members," Pinskey said. “What could have been just a routine maintenance project has done a lot to transform the core of our Fairfax Campus.”

George Mason statue moved to its new home (video)

Colleen Rich — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:00:13 +0000

George Mason statue moved to its new home (video) Colleen Rich Fri, 06/12/2020 - 05:00

The iconic statue of George Mason on George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus was moved on June 15 to its new (temporary) home on Holton Plaza. Check out a video of the move.

The move is necessary to make room for reconstruction of the area of Wilkins Plaza adjacent to Robinson B, which itself will be demolished after the opening of Horizon Hall, expected for the spring 2021 semester.

The Mason statue will return to its usual place on Wilkins Plaza in late summer 2021.

The Mason clock, a gift from the Class of 1999 that was moved into storage in December 2018 to facilitate the expansion of Wilkins Plaza, is expected to make its reappearance in July, slightly north and east of its former location near David King Hall.

“Things are moving along pretty well although productivity has been reduced over the past several months due to COVID,” Cathy Pinskey, program director at Mason Facilities, said of the Core Campus Project, which is transforming the center of the Fairfax Campus.

Moving the Mason statue is fairly straightforward, Pinskey said.

After it was loosened from its base, the statue was picked up by a forklift, strapped onto a flatbed truck for safety and shuttled to Holton Plaza.

There it was be placed on a newly constructed base.

Once the statue returns, it will be part of the memorial on Wilkins Plaza dedicated to the Enslaved People of George Mason.

That memorial, designed by landscape architects with Perkins & Will, in association with a diverse team of Mason faculty, staff and students, intertwines the narratives of two of Mason’s slaves: Penny, a 10-year-old girl, and James, Mason’s personal manservant.

At the base of the Mason statue will also be four quotes from Mason that explains his important and complex role in American history as the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and a slaveowner.

New academic building has a name: Horizon Hall

Damian Cristodero — Fri, 22 May 2020 09:30:00 +0000

New academic building has a name: Horizon Hall Damian Cristodero Fri, 05/22/2020 - 05:30

Horizon Hall, under construction as shown in this May 20 photo, is the cornerstone of the Core Campus Project, which is transforming the Fairfax Campus. Photo courtesy of Mason Facilities.

When Debra Lattanzi Shutika talks to students and prospective students at George Mason University, she emphasizes how a humanities degree will broaden their horizons.

That is why the chair of the English Department in Mason’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) believes Horizon Hall is the perfect name for the new academic building that is scheduled to open on the Fairfax Campus in January 2021 .

“Horizon Hall,” she said, “absolutely gets at the expansive possibilities of a humanities degree.”

The name was approved by the Board of Visitors at its May 20 meeting.

The new building, which will replace Robinson Hall A and B and is part of the Core Campus Project, will be a state-of-the-art, six story, 218,000-square-foot structure housing classrooms, conference rooms, community spaces, and a Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) as well as many of CHSS’s departments and interdisciplinary programs.

Classrooms will accommodate 27 to 118 students and will be outfitted with an instructor computer and display capabilities, all with the goal of fostering discussion and active learning. Large windows throughout the building will maximize natural light in internal spaces like the six-story atrium as well as internal offices.

“It’s going to be such a fantastic building,” Mason Interim President Anne Holton said. “It’s right at the center of the Fairfax Campus. And with these fabulous state-of-the-art, high-tech classrooms, it will expand our active learning classrooms to further enhance the student experience while creating a vibrant, globally connected hub for intellectual exploration."

“The forward-looking vision of the university is so much about facilitating multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary work,” CHSS Dean Ann Ardis said. “Populating the building with disciplines in the humanities and social sciences that haven’t always lived in easy proximity to one another on the Fairfax Campus can enable cross-disciplinary interactions and collaborations. And the atrium as well as the garden area adjacent to the Wilkins Plaza will be stunning new spaces for special events and receptions.”

But back to that name: Horizon Hall.

It fits so well, Ardis said, because so many humanities and social science majors are “discovery” majors.

For example, she said, high school curricula don’t typically include exposure to disciplines like anthropology, art history, linguistics or sociology. Many high schools also don’t offer opportunities to study critical languages like Korean, Arabic or Chinese.

“Students often discover their interests and aptitudes in CHSS majors and minors because they are introduced to these disciplines for the first time through Mason Core requirements,” Ardis said. “A lot of our majors grow over time. A college education opens a student’s horizons by introducing you to a far broader complement of disciplinary practices, methodologies and career opportunities.”

Lattanzi Shutika said she knows students who have graduated with English degrees who are working in tech, as publicists, teachers and writers.

“That’s the beauty of getting a degree in English,” she said. “It broadens your horizons.”