Mason’s Mortarboard

The construction of Mason Pond was completed back in February of 1991. Since then, leaves, erosion (sediments) and a water fountain have greatly reduced its water capacity, creating concerns about whether the pond has too much or not enough water.

Mason is having the water levels closely monitored because the university uses some of the water to satisfy part of its Best Management Practices (BMP) requirements.

By surveying the pond periodically, it can be determined how fast the pond is filling up with debris and when it will need to be dredged (an excavation to gather debris and dispose of it at a different location). When a pond is drained and the sediments are removed, the empty pond will emit a considerable amount of hydrogen sulfide, producing a foul odor (often likened to rotten eggs).

Luckily, surveyors say they won’t have to remove the sediments for at least a few more years. The water amount has decreased from about 245,000 cubic feet in 2005, to about 205,000 cubic feet in 2009.

Things will be getting noisier and congested for the next few weeks along Aquia Creek Lane. Construction of the SUB I addition will bring many trucks and trailers to campus beginning Monday, Nov. 9.

The trucks will be delivering large amounts of steel on a regular basis until Nov. 30. (But to be honest, rarely do these contractors ever get it done on or before deadline. This will likely continue well into December considering the potential for many time line and weather delays. )

This will severely impact motorists who park in Mason Pond Deck. Aquia Creek Lane will be limited to one lane most of the time (and often times, the road will be completely obstructed). In the event that traffic becomes too congested, the Parking and Transportation Office will begin directing traffic to the lower entrance/exit normally reserved for only visitors.

I keep wondering just how complicated it would be to permanently open up the lower level entrance/exit to everyone, but the Parking and Transportation Office says that doing so would greatly strain the parking staff in order to man the lower level gate. They know much more about parking than I do, but to me, it sure seems like a tempting alternative to dealing with the chaos that is Aquia Creek Lane.

We’ll find out how it all goes on Monday.

It’s happened to me countless times before – I’m given an expected completion date of a construction project. That date comes… and goes… and the project is not completed. This is a very common occurence with all types of construction projects, but it’s hard to get upset when there are so many factors in play with construction.

HOWEVER, this time, I think it’s safe to report (but don’t hold your breath) that the Mason Pond Drive “connector road” (the road that passes by the Mason Inn and connects Rte 123 to Patriot Circle) will be open to all traffic by the end of October. Actually, I was told that project coordinators would be “very, very surprised if the road is not open by October 26.”

I know it’s just a road, but given the often congested traffic patterns in the region, especially at peak drive times, this one little road could make a noticeable difference for all of us who drive to campus. Traffic that frequently backs up on eastbound Braddock turning into campus will have alternate access off of Rte 123. Also, vehicles exiting campus and heading to northbound 123 will be able to get off campus quicker.

Chief of Police Mike Lynch says “this is one of the most anticipated transportation improvements happening at Mason.” Though it would have been nice to have this road open at the beginning of the school year, it’s better late than never.

The new Engineering Building will officially open its doors (even though the building is already fully operational, and has been for months) at the grand opening ceremony this Friday, October 2.

The event takes place at the south (atrium) entrance at 3 pm.  Dr. Merten, Dr. Ernst Volgenau, and Dean Griffiths will all be there to say a few words about the new building’s significance and what it adds to our campus. Everyone is welcome to attend. There’ll be free food and drink, gifts and student-led building tours.

As the largest academic building on the Fairfax Campus, the Engineering Building combines academic space with 20,000 square feet of corporate lease space, making it the only building of its kind throughout Virginia’s public university system.

It’s also Mason’s first building on campus to be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. LEED is a certification program that sets the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-tech, environmentally conscious buildings.

I’m hearing rumors that the Washington Nationals mascots (Abe, George, Tom and Teddy) will be making an appearance at the RAC grand opening on Wednesday, Sept 2, at 11 am. All students, staff, faculty and friends are invited.

I’m not sure what the mascots will be doing, but I think they’re challenging OUR president, President Alan Merten, to something.  One way or another, I know there will be free food and drinks, games, and gifts.

The addition to the de Laski Performing Arts Building (PAB) is currently under construction. Consequently, the entire grassy area between the PAB and the Johnson Center is fenced-off. Two main entrances to the PAB on the building’s east side will be inaccessible for the duration of the project.

However, all classes in the PAB will still take place as scheduled. Two second-floor entrances remain fully functional on the west side between the PAB and the Center for the Arts, directly across from the Mason Pond Parking Deck. A third entrance on the south side of the PAB accesses the ground floor. Signs are in place to designate each entrance.

Once construction is complete in summer 2010, the addition will add dance and orchestra practice spaces, larger performance halls and a training room for performers. The building will be a recognizable landmark on campus with its grand entrance facing the Johnson Center circle on Aquia Creek Lane.

On an expanding campus that’s home to a growing number of students, there’s one topic of conversation that frequently arises: parking.

For the last two years, Mason’s Fairfax Campus has adjusted to a number of parking lot closures. In most cases, new academic buildings and student housing projects were taking the place of these old lots.

But in one case, the space formerly known as Lot F that held 939 parking spaces was closed in order to build a ginormous, five-level, 2,650 space parking deck. Officially named the Rappahannock River Parking Deck, it has sections available for students, employees and visitors – much like Sandy Creek Parking Deck, but with twice the capacity.

Now that the deck has reached completion, it’s time to celebrate. The grand opening will be held on Thursday, August 13 at 10 a.m. at the southeast corner of the deck across the street from the Hampton Roads residence hall.

Dr. Merten will take the liberty of being the first person to park in the deck.

Cake and beverages will be available and gifts will be given out. Though the deck is complete, it will not officially open to all vehicles until Mason receives the necessary occupancy permit. The permit is expected to be awarded within the next week.

President Merten recently said that this upcoming year “will be Mason’s most dynamic ever due to unprecedented campus expansion and completed construction projects. Each new facility provides an opportunity to celebrate and tell the Mason Story.”

Those stories will be told during a number of grand opening celebrations over the next three months. Fittingly, one of the most anticipated structures on campus–the Rappahannock River Parking Deck–will have the honor of being the first to celebrate it’s opening, August 13. President Merten will likely be behind the wheel of the first auto to enter the deck as he ceremoniously drives through a ribbon.

The next will be the opening of “the RAC” (Recreational Athletic Complex) on September 2. This one ought to get a lot of attendance, especially from the many students who will have just arrived back to school. Once the ribbon is cut and people enter the building, everyone will be able to participate in a large number of events such as an obstacle course, gladiator joust, dunk tank, rock wall, mechanical bull… you get the idea.

The Engineering Building will hold its ceremony on October 2, at the beginning of Alumni Weekend. President Merten, Dean Griffiths and Dr. Volgenau will address the crowd, and hopefully we’ll be able to schedule Doc Nix and Co. to liven things up.

The School of Art will hold their grand opening on October 23. I know they already have a keynote speaker lined up for the program, afterwhich everyone will be able to walk through the new building and see student and faculty artwork (food and beverages will be placed throughout the building, of course).

One other building that will be completed but has yet to finalize a grand opening date is the Police and Public Safety Building (just north of the new parking deck). I dont know when the event will be held, but I do know that I’m pushing for the VIPs to use the Jaws of Life to cut the ribbon instead of plain ol’ scissors.

The Rat is back.

After more than a decade-long hiatus, the Mason Rathskeller is moving back to SUB I. The sports bar, fondly known as “the Rat,” made its debut on campus back in 1976, but its popularity dwindled when the Johnson Center opened its doors 20 years later. The Rat was later converted into what is now the game room in SUB I.

But a college campus just doesn’t seem complete without a good, old-fashioned sports bar. Damon’s, which was open from 2005 until this past spring, was an effort to bring it back, but Mason Dining officials acknowledge the concept was not wholly successful (Damon’s had become famous for its slow service). They decided to keep the basic Damon’s appearance, but take the operation in a new direction.

Following a slight makeover, the former Damon’s space will re-emerge in late August as the Rat. The restaurant will still boast 12 big-screen TVs, music and a good-sized selection of beer and wine. Eventually, the bar plans to double the current on-tap beer offerings from five to 10.

But the dining concept will change slightly to appeal more to student-aged customers while lowering costs and wait time. Food will be ordered and paid for at a front counter. Then, servers will bring the food out to customers’ tables.

By dropping the Damon’s brand, Mason can freshen up the menu whenever and with whatever it wants. It can also run promotions sponsored by Athletics and Student Activities.  The goal is to get more student patrons, espeically at night and on weekends.

The addition to the de Laski Performing Arts Building will soon be in full swing. That means the area needs to be fenced off, beginning Thursday, July 9.  This will affect all pedestrians that use the sidewalks between the PAB, the Johnson Center, and the Fine Arts Building.

Pretty much all of the grassy area directly to the south of the George Mason statue will be taken up by construction in the coming weeks.  But there’s no need to worry; to ensure George’s safety, I’m told that he (the statue) will be shielded behind some sort of protective box/covering. But I’m not exactly sure what material will be used to box him up or when that will happen.

Last week, a ground breaking was held to commemorate the start of the project, though preparations had started as far back as November ‘08 when all of the trees in the future construction site were removed and replanted around campus.

That was the first step. Now it’s time to get down and dirty. Once completed, the addition will add dance and orchestra practice spaces, larger performance halls, and a training room for performers. The building will be recognizeable for its grand entrance which will face the Johnson Center circle of Aquia Creek Lane.