Mason’s Mortarboard

For most people who live, drive and/or commute through the region surrounding Mason’s Fairfax Campus, their only impression of George Mason University may be the Fieldhouse, the Patriot Center, or Blinky (the large electronic sign at Braddock Road and Nottoway River Lane). The outer perimeter is all they know.

They haven’t seen all of the changes going on within the confines of Patriot Circle. But soon enough, changes will start impacting the outer fringes as well.

Within the next few weeks, nearly every entrance to the Fairfax Campus will begin seeing alterations. One of the most anticipated changes will take place on Route 123. A connector road will run between Route 123 and the Patriot Circle roundabout, but will primarily serve as the main access to the future Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel (or “MICH,” as I like to call it). However, this road will initially be used only for construction vehicles and will not be open to through traffic for many, many months.

In the more immediate future, George Mason Blvd will reach completion by the end of May. This road will seriously alter the northern approach to campus by diverting traffic that would normally use the portion of University Drive between campus and downtown. Following this project, a number of aesthetic enhancements will eventually happen at the corner of George Mason Blvd and University Drive, creating a grander, more picturesque entrance to campus.

A digital enhancement of the landscaping at the corner of Roberts and Braddock

Also, the pedestrian entrance to campus on the corner of Braddock Road and Roberts will see a lot of sprucing up, as it is one of the most visible portions of campus to passing traffic. The area will feature wider sidewalks, refined landscaping and enhanced Mason signage.

Further up on Roberts Road (considered to be a more dangerous thoroughfare of campus traffic because of its narrow lanes and low visibility) at the intersection of Shenandoah River Lane (usually backed up with traffic at peak travel times and game nights), attention will be given to ease rush hour congestion. By adding turn lanes and “momentum lanes,” the intersection should flow much easier.

Though the new building on the Arlington Campus, Founders Hall, is still more than 18 months away from completion, students can look forward to getting a tasty breakfast all day long — the building will feature an Einstein Bros Bagel shop. The restaurant space had been part of the design plans for years, but the actual brand of restaurant had been debated up until just a few weeks ago.

Since the space was never designed to include a hood system — a costly and complex component necessary for restaurant kitchen ventilation — the list of possible occupants was limited. But making bagels requires no hood, so Einstein reps decided Founders Hall was a perfect fit.

Not many other food services will be available on the campus, as the area already boasts myriad dining options. Mason dining officials knew that for the restaurant to be a success, it needed to carry a big name brand. Einsteins fit the bill.

A 50,000 square foot building will be built on the Fairfax Campus – where the greenhouse used to be – for use as swing space. Half of the building will be used as temporary relocation space for occupants of other buildings scheduled for renovation. The other half will be constructed as the permanent location for the University Data Center. The project schedule is closely connected to renovation schedules of West Hall (completed in fall ‘07) and Thompson Hall (scheduled for Jan. ‘10 through May ‘11).