In the future, when you reflect on your time at Georgetown, you may remember walking to class with friends through Red Square, throwing a frisbee in the sun on Copley Lawn or moving into a residence hall in August.
We know that special memories are made here. However, as our historic Hilltop campus gets older, so do our facilities. Our unsung systems allow the university to operate and our students to thrive. Maintaining and modernizing the physical aspects of our campuses is of the utmost importance to ensure that memories can continue to be made here.
Right now, drilling noises, individuals in hard hats and fencing are largely what you hear and see when you walk through the front gates at 37th and O Streets. Today, Copley Lawn is partially blocked off to support the Healy and Copley Lawn Utilities Project: a three-year renovation of our largest green space, designed not only to modernize our underground utility system, but also to support our long-term commitment to environmental stewardship by advancing sustainability on campus.
In preparation for the temporary loss of green space as a part of the Healy and Copley Lawn project, our team set out to provide alternative outdoor areas such as the Harbin Patio and St. Mary’s Garden. We focused on redesigning the Harbin Patio to allow for a better drainage system, a wide array of seating options and eventual access to power. And, of course, we wanted to provide students with a beautiful and well-designed study spot!
While we understand the lawn is an irreplaceable location on the Hilltop, this critical work will enhance the experience on campus for future generations. Although you may not be able to see it, beneath our lawns lives aging utility infrastructure that needs to be replaced. Through this work, we can prevent disruptions of services later on. This project will also make Georgetown more energy-efficient, contributing to our priority of progressing toward a more sustainable future.
For our graduating seniors, we can reassure you that the lawn will be open and ready come graduation this May. Our team is working tirelessly to ensure we are on schedule to complete the current phase and pause our utilities work during this memorable weekend for you and your loved ones.
As a continued effort towards our commitment to a more sustainable future, we began construction on the former Henle Village in September 2023, in hopes to design a new apartment style residential complex. This fall, upperclass students will be able to enjoy the New Residential Complex (NRC). Not only will this residential hall increase our Hilltop bed count by 200, allowing more students the opportunity to live on campus, but it also enhances accessibility which was limited on the formerly hilly site. In addition, the NRC is on track to receive LEED Platinum Certification, the highest tier of energy efficiency, cost savings and carbon emission reduction.
As this new building is in a central location on our Hilltop campus, we recognize that the noise and construction may be disruptive at times, and we are grateful for your patience.
Continuing to advance our commitment to a more sustainable future, we remind ourselves of our dedication to the Laudato Si’ guiding principles; to take action where we can to reduce our impact on the climate.
We call on the Laudato Si’ pillar to “Respond to the Cry of the Earth,” which urges us to improve the conditions of our common home for the ecological well-being of all living beings. As we work towards this goal, we are dedicated to ensuring that all new builds and substantial renovations are designed to achieve LEED certification.
In support of the pillar, “Community Resilience and Empowerment,” we are dedicated to increasing physical and visual access to nature and green spaces. As we make these changes, with the student experience and safety at the forefront of our design, we know that they cannot happen overnight.
While maintaining Georgetown’s memorable architecture and landscaping is central to the identity of the university and the student experience, the university’s planning and facilities management team also aspires to improve our spaces and infrastructure for centuries to come.
Through projects such as the Healy and Copley Lawn Utilities Project and the design and construction of the New Residential Complex, our team is supporting the current and next generation of Hoyas through the physical enhancement of our campuses. We appreciate your patience through these physical changes on our campus.
Lisa Belokur is the Vice President of Planning and Facilities Management and Ayana Thomas is the Director of Sustainability, Administration and Culture at Georgetown University.
