Each summer while most students are away, the George Washington University assigns itself a series of projects, spending thousands of hours on initiatives to enhance the campus experience.
Here’s a look at some of the significant changes students should know about as they start the academic year:
Residence halls
While Thurston Hall reopened for students after extensive renovations, staff inspected individual rooms throughout other halls on the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses, cleaning and repairing or replacing items and touching up paint to ensure spaces were move-in ready.
Some residence halls were slated for more extensive updates this summer, including aesthetic changes and many upgrades you may not see but are critical for keeping a residence hall in tip-top shape. In addition to laundry machine replacements throughout campus residence halls, a variety of additional improvements were made:
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Dakota has been updated with new unit flooring and bedroom lighting in addition to up-to-date in-unit washers and dryers. The building also received an upgraded lobby lounge.
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In Potomac, new unit flooring is coupled with HVAC improvements in the stairwell.
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Fulbright received a flooring replacement.
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In JBKO, the university made repairs to the roof.
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In South, the university replaced range hoods throughout the building.
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At 2108 G Street, repairs were made to concrete walkways.
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1959 E Street residents will notice floor replacements, repainted hallways and new check valves for washing machines on the second and third floors.
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Mitchell has been updated with new shower heads, hallway paint and refurbished floors.
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Shenkman received new bedroom furniture throughout the building.
Academic and administrative buildings
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University Student Center underwent interior renovations throughout the building, including upgrades to common space, fresh paint, new light fixtures, flooring and ceiling tiles. The full scope of the project on all floors is expected to be completed by the end of October.
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Staughton Hall was demolished, making way for new green community space complete with outdoor lights.
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Charles E. Smith Center has undergone floor refinishing in the main arena.
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Corcoran School is seeing ongoing concrete repairs.
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The E Building at the GW Law complex has new floors.
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Building J at 2131 G Street received full infrastructure updates that continue this fall.
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Gelman Library received repairs to the building envelope—the physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned building environments, which continue into fall semester.
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Duques Hall added an all-use restroom.
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The roof of Himmelfarb Library is being replaced as part of an ongoing project.
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Masonry joints at the front entrance of Ross Hall have been repaired.
A refreshed dining experience at District House included new vendors, digital displys and kiosk ordering. (William Atkins/ GW Today)
Dining experience
Dining at Thurston Hall will be completed early in the fall semester, and dining at Shenkman is expected to be completed late in the fall semester.
A refresh at District House includes new dining vendors, digital displays and kiosk ordering.
HVAC Upgrades and utilities
HVAC upgrades are ongoing at Lerner Health and Wellness Center, which is temporarily closed to accommodate this work. When Lerner reopens in mid-fall, GW’s health and wellness center will be better able to meet the overall health and well-being needs of GW students. During the closure, group fitness classes and new gym pop-ups at West Hall, University Student Center and District House will make it easy to stay active this fall. An update will be provided to the university community when the center is set to reopen.
Townhouse Row occupants are enjoying an upgraded HVAC system, with finishing touches to be completed over winter break. Elevators at the Elliott School of International Affairs and Ross Hall were updated, and the Burns Law Library has a new emergency power system upgrade.