Construction begins on the Academic VII Building, the future home of the College of Health and Human Services, at the Fairfax Campus. Parking Lot H is scheduled to close on Wednesday, July 8. Photo by Alexis Glenn.
By Buzz McClain
Parking at George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus will be affected by new construction beginning July 6. That’s when ground will be broken for the 160,000-square-foot Academic VII Building, the future home of the College of Health and Human Services.
The building is expected to open in 2017 in what is now Parking Lot H, located at Patriot Circle and George Mason Boulevard.
Prepare to make a few detours for the next several months. Here is a look at changes in traffic patterns and parking options.
- Traffic on the Fairfax Campus will be rerouted throughout much of the campus for several months.
- Traffic will be shifted in phases. Patriot Circle between George Mason Boulevard and Aquia Creek Lane will be closed from July 8 to Aug. 15, and again as needed in September and October. It will stay closed for the remainder of the roadwork. George Mason Boulevard will also be closed for several weeks later in the fall.
- The 40-space reserved administrative parking lot, motorcycle parking and disabled parking in front of the Finley Building and Thompson Hall will be closed.
- The metered parking spaces at the Finley Building will be converted into disabled spaces for permit holders and visitors. Eventually this parking lot will be rebuilt as part of the Academic VII construction project.
- Alternative parking options—which can be found here—include the Rappahannock River Faculty/Staff Reserved Area, the Rappahannock Roof Only Reserved Area, and reserved spaces in Lots I and J and, at the Field House, Lots M and P.
- Upgrading from Lot H’s general faculty/staff permit to the third level of Rappahannock’s reserved deck is a $160 difference for the year, from $390 to $550. A roof-only permit at $475 is an $85 difference for the reserved upgrade.
- Lower-cost options include the Field House ($265 for the year) and West Campus ($150).
- The Chesapeake River Lane shuttle bus stop across from Merten Hall and next to the Rappahannock River Parking Deck may be closed or relocated at times during construction.
- Detours for cars and pedestrians around construction zones will be marked.
The big hit is the loss of Lot H’s 304 spaces.
“For now, using space in Rappahannock plus underutilized space at the Field House and West Campus, in conjunction with increased shuttle service along Campus Drive, are the strategies,” said Josh Cantor, director of parking and transportation at Mason.
“We are converting about 110 general spaces on the parking deck ramps between levels two and three in Rappahannock to general faculty/staff,” Cantor added.
Cantor said periodic updates will be sent to the campus community throughout the year and information will be regularly posted at building.gmu.edu.
As always, alternative transportation options—such as carpooling, shuttle buses and bicycles—are advisable.
Parking Services can be contacted at parking@gmu.edu, on Facebook at facebook.com/MasonParkingTransportation and on Twitter @MasonParking.