Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

New Year, New Construction as Projects Push Forward

CHARLIE LOWE/THE HOYA Construction on a number of university building projects, including the new Healey Family Student Center, has continued over break.
CHARLIE LOWE/THE HOYA
Construction on a number of university building projects, including the new Healey Family Student Center, has continued over break.

With the opening of the Northeast Triangle delayed to summer 2016, the university has continued to refine the new hall’s plans and push forward on a host of other building projects including the Healey Family Student Center, the conversions of Ryan and Mulledy Halls and the repurposing of two floors in the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center.

“Our efforts are focused on the exterior architecture so that we can get Old Georgetown Board’s approval,” Vice President for Planning and Facilities Management Robin Morey said.

After failing to get final concept approval and receiving aesthetic recommendations from the OGB for the Northeast Triangle Residence Hall in December, architects and administrators have been working to incorporate the OGB’s suggestions into the building’s design.

In response to the OGB’s request for the creation of a southern entrance to the Northeast Triangle, architects plan to shift the multi-purpose room, located on the southeast side of the first floor, to the east. This alteration will allow for a corridor that will connect the new entrance to the rest of the building.

The university will review these changes during a Northeast Triangle team meeting next week. Morey said that he anticipates receiving OGB concept approval in March.

In response to the Northeast Triangle’s delay, the university is continuing with preliminary plans for the partial conversion of the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center into temporary student housing. According to Morey, administrators are currently determining how the loss of up to two floors of hotel rooms would affect the university’s mission, as well as how students would use the space.

“Students would probably come in from the esplanade and utilize the second floor,” Morey said. “We would black out the elevators so that they only reach certain floors.”

Morey said that the university has not yet determined the potential revenue loss that would result from the limited use of the hotel.

Last month the university selected Ayers Saint Gross, an architect firm known for its focus on university work, to lead the conversion of Ryan and Mulledy Halls into student housing.

Architects have begun initial walk-throughs of the buildings, but specific details about the halls’ designs have yet to be determined.

While the university anticipates that the renovation of the buildings will be complete by summer 2015, that timeline may change as architects learn more about the buildings’ structures.

“We might get in there and find out there is a structural issue and that might take longer than we anticipated,” Morey said.

According to an email from the Office of Planning and Facilities Management, as of Jan. 2, Prospect Street has been closed to inbound and outbound traffic between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. until March 15, due to Healey Family Student Center construction.
Due to the street closure, Georgetown University Transportation Shuttles travelling to Rosslyn, Arlington and the Law Center have been rerouted. The buses now travel down Reservoir Road and Foxhall Road instead of Prospect Street, resulting in increased trip times.
In addition to the progress that has been made with on-campus planning, significant advances have been made with neighborhood planning.

Last month, the Georgetown Business Improvement District finalized “Georgetown 2028,” a 15-year plan that aims to improve Georgetown’s commercial district. The plan includes a 78-item “Action Agenda,” which addresses such goals as the improvement of roadway and parking management and the creation of new transportation options such as a Georgetown Metro stop and a gondola.

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