George Mason University’s Arlington Campus is home to several thriving professional and graduate programs.
As a strategically placed George Mason resource, the campus is poised to take on an even greater role in the future. A two-day exercise to help craft that role is scheduled for March 8-9.
Mason leadership and other stakeholders, including members of the public, will consider best uses of current facilities, ideas for new facilities and best uses for the site of the vacant Kann’s Department Store.
Steve Case, chairman and CEO of Washington-based investment firm Revolution LLC and a co-founder of America Online, will help lead a conversation about how the university can get the most value from campus developments, followed by small group working sessions on March 8. Mason president Ángel Cabrera and Tom Calhoun, vice president of facilities at Mason, will also help lead the discussion.
Topics to address include branding of the building, academic priorities, increasing daytime activity at the campus, transportation and parking, community engagement and funding. Ideas already discussed include building an academic conference center, a makerspace for innovators and student housing.
On Thursday, after an overview of Wednesday’s input, there will be a presentation of recommendations and a discussion of how best to implement the ideas.
The charrette takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and noon to 3 on Thursday in the multipurpose room of Mason’s Founders Hall, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington. For information, visit facilities.gmu.edu/Arlington or contact Una Murphy at umurphy@gmu.edu or 703-993-8621.