History and Development of the Campus
In 1979, the Arlington Campus was created when the Virginia General Assembly authorized George Mason University to establish a law school. The school was located in the former Kann's Department Store building, which is now referred to as the Original Building. The following year, the university established the graduate and continuing education programs and a fine arts gallery at the Arlington Campus.
In 1996, ground was broken for construction of the first phase of a three-phase redevelopment project to accommodate the projected student enrollment of 10,000. Phase I, completed in fall 1998, is now called Hazel Hall and houses the School of Law, the Mercatus Center, and the Institute for Humane Studies.
Phase II will provide 250,000 square feet of space for the School of Public Policy, the School of Law, and academic and student support services. In addition, the building will feature a 300-seat auditorium, a scenic public plaza, a 500-seat multipurpose room, and three levels of underground parking including 433 new parking spaces. Occupancy is anticipated for spring 2010.
The Phase III building will replace the Original Building, expanding the entire Arlington Campus to 750,000 square feet of space and providing tremendous opportunity for continued student enrollment, research, and support services growth. The Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution is expected to reside in the Phase III building.
The George Mason University Foundation building also contributes to the Arlington Campus with a building that includes parking, 192,000 square feet of leased office space, and 13,000 square feet of retail space.
In addition to the current facilities at the Arlington Campus, the university leases approximately 50,000 square feet of space in the Truland Building. This building currently houses the Student Health Services Office, the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, the Graduate Social Work Program, the Office of Metropolitan Relations, the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program, Clinic for Legal Assistance to Servicemembers (CLAS), the Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis Program, and the Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science.
Arlington Alliances
Mason has always worked with regional business and civic organizations, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies, to be a relevant and responsive educational force and serve the area's needs. Resources available to the community include the following:
- Arlington Campus Bookstore
- Arlington Campus Gallery
- Arlington Campus Library and Law School Library
- Arlington Small Business Development Center
- Clinic for Legal Assistance to Servicemembers
- Institute for Humane Studies
- Law and Economics Center
- Mason Enterprise Center for Regional Analysis and Entrepreneurship
- Mason Speakers
- Mercatus Center
- National Center for Technology and Law
For more information on the Arlington Campus and its programs and services, call the Arlington Campus Information Services Office at 703-993-8999.