Many improvements were made to the George Washington University’s campus over the summer, including renovations in residence halls, updates to spaces in the University Student Center and adding more places for students to gather. Several of the improvements were made in direct response to student suggestions, including the installation of Ping-Pong tables and hammocks in various green spaces.
According to Baxter Goodly, vice president for safety and operations, many of the more noticeable changes made over the summer were part of a collaborative effort with student leadership.
“Every summer we undertake routine maintenance and new enhancements throughout our campuses,” Goodly said. “This year we were able to work with the Student Government Association on many of the more visible outdoor projects to ensure we were maximizing benefits for our students.”
Students and facilities staff worked together last year to finalize these improvements, with much of the impetus for these upgrades coming from the university’s forthcoming strategic framework, which has a key goal of creating a more vibrant and welcoming campus environment.
From left, John Lach, Colette Coleman, Michael Lipitz and President Granberg joined SGA officers Ethan Lynne and Liz Stoddard in upgraded Square 80. (William Atkins/GW Today)
Some of GW’s most frequently used classrooms on campus were part of this upgrade.
- In Phillips Hall (Academic Center) and Bell Hall, 14 classrooms got new furniture and finishes.
- In Bell Hall, corridors have new flooring, and there are new exterior windows and an HVAC upgrade.
- In Jack Morton Auditorium, there is a new set design on the main stage and new seating.
- There was renovation to the student services suite on the second floor of Science and Engineering Hall.
- In addition to these high-visibility projects, GW also undertook major maintenance upgrades such as Gelman Library’s HVAC system.
Other improvements made on campus this summer include:
- New outdoor furniture has been installed campuswide, including:
- An outdoor Ping-Pong table at Shenkman Hall courtyard and Square 80 plaza.
- New tables with umbrellas (such as the one outside the Potomac House entrance) have been installed throughout the campus.
- Hammocks have been placed in various locations including Kogan Plaza and University Yard.
- Wooden rocking tables have also been installed in green spaces such as Kogan Plaza. These look like picnic tables under a canopy, with benches that slide back and forth.
In Guthridge Hall and Francis Scott Key Hall (FSK), the lobbies have been made more appealing by a large graphic installation showing D.C. scenes, as well as new lighting, furniture and finishes. These upgrades align with GW’s new standard design for residence hall lobbies. (Upgrades will be made to other halls in the future.) Community kitchens have been added in FSK and an accessible entry ramp has been installed.
Several space enhancements made in the University Student Center (USC) include:
- A newly painted lobby ceiling in the Great Hall.
- New accent walls with both paint and wall coverings in various areas of the building.
- A green wall of dried and preserved moss on the fifth floor, bringing a bit of nature indoors.
- New murals in staircases and on the fourth floor showing colorful D.C. scenes.
- New graphics on bathroom doors.
The Center for Interfaith and Spiritual Life has a new home on the second floor of USC featuring a meditation room, lounge and meeting rooms, staff offices and spaces for student gatherings. An open house and dedication event to officially open this space will be held in early fall.
Colette Coleman, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, said the renovated space will strengthen community ties.
“These refreshed spaces will allow us to better support students and the GW community by providing more room for community conversation, opportunities for spiritual practice for all and a stronger sense of belonging," Coleman said.
Incoming Student Government Association President Ethan Lynne, a senior political communication major, was one of the students who offered suggestions for campus improvements after joining Goodly and his staff on a walk around campus last year.
“SGA leadership brought concerns that we had with certain public campus spaces to facilities leadership and the dean of students,” Lynne said. “And then we worked with them throughout the year. They developed some proposals, we offered feedback, and then finally everything was put into motion toward the end of the last school year. I think these projects bolster the student experience and make our campus more welcoming, because they provide more opportunities for students to grow and build community.”
Lynne said he has been impressed by the speed with which changes were implemented and by seeing what a big difference a modest change can make.
“Some small tweaks have completely transformed the way a space feels, and the way I think students are going to feel entering them,” Lynne said.
Another example of this type of upgrade, meant to enhance the student experience, is the new wallpaper on the third floor of the University Student Center.
“It looks a lot more welcoming,” Lynne said. “It looks cleaner, nicer and definitely a lot more like a student meeting center.”
It’s difficult to choose his favorite from all the renovations, Lynne said.
“The hammocks are so cool, and I love that there’s so many of them, but my favorite upgrade is definitely the moss wall on the fifth floor of the USC. It's an entire wall of moss and other plant life. We wanted more greenery, and you’ll notice many other plants lining all the floors of the USC.”
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Colette Coleman (center) takes a new hammock for a test drive with students in Kogan Plaza. (William Atkins/GW Today)
Another important upgrade involves expanding Square 80, a park originally created in 2009 by converting a former parking lot next to the academic townhouses in the 2100 block of G Street into a green space. Last year, students in GW’s sustainability program used their capstone project to propose expanding this area by combining three adjacent backyards, removing some fencing, leveling the ground and adding landscaping. An official opening event will be held this fall. The expansion of Square 80 also creates another pedestrian cut-through to enhance connections for students en route to many classroom buildings.
Adam Aaronson, M.B.A. ’04, assistant vice president for campus development, said the highly utilized original grass field on Square 80 was also being upgraded with turf featuring a GW logo.
“Given how popular the center space of the Square 80 park has become for outdoor activities and events, it has been a challenge to keep the field area free of mud and always open,” Aaronson said. “The new turf accommodates this demand while preserving full water permeability, which was a key feature of the Square 80 plaza. In other words, rainwater will still collect underground. And the expansion of the park ensures we continue to provide plenty of spaces for students who want a place to relax outside.”
