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Capitol Amendments Proposed for Building Planning Funds, Leases, and Renovations
By Daniel Walsch
In this session of the General Assembly, George Mason University presents $10.2 million in legislative amendments designed to address "critical needs for capital-related and capital outlay items not addressed in the governor's budget bill."
The decision was made at the January meeting of the Board of Visitors. Based on recommendations from President Alan Merten, the amendments address to capital-related needs at each of George Mason's three campuses.
"These funds," says Merten, "will complement the monies that Governor Gilmore has already recommended for George Mason. We will work closely with the governor's office and our legislators as we pursue these requests."
The legislative amendments are
as follows:
- $2.1 million in additional classroom, class laboratory, and faculty office space to improve the effectiveness of undergraduate learning. Space would be leased or purchased in Arlington, Fairfax, Springfield, and Belmont Bay.
- $1.4 million to support further
renovation of the original Arlington building. This funding would come on the heels of a $600,000 renovation project totally funded by the university within its existing operating funds and focus primarily
on classroom lighting, classroom soundproofing and electrical distribution improvements, ceiling improvements, classroom reconstruction, restroom renovations, recarpeting, painting, and asbestos removal.
- $406,000 to replace heating and cooling elements at both the Arlington Campus and the Physical Education Building on the Fairfax Campus.
- $3.5 million in campus planning
and regional development funds
to support further planning for Arlington II and Prince William II.
- $2.8 million in additional building equipment in support of constructing a "technologically smart" facility on the Fairfax Campus.
In his budget bill presented last December, Gilmore proposed $11.1 million in new monies for George Mason. If approved by the General Assembly, these funds would be distributed, in part, as follows: $6.5 million for technology in instruction, $2.1 million for academic quality, and $1.5 million for establishing a Center for Technology and Law at the School of Law.
"George Mason deserves the support it needs to be Northern Virginia's regional public university," Gilmore said.
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