During the summer months, in preparation for the start of the fall semester, Mason Facilities runs through an extensive checklist to get all campuses ready. From landscaping upkeep to classroom refreshes to updating signage, Facilities ensures that each experience on campus is one of quality. Below are just some examples of how Facilities handles the operations of making Mason run smoothly.
This Summer 2023, Mason Facilities installed Aunt Flow Dispensers on the Fairfax, Mason Square, and Sci-Tech Campuses. This was done in partnership with The Patriot Period Project, a student-run organization that provides free feminine products in a few locations on Mason’s campuses. Mason Facilities collaborated with The Patriot Period Project and provided Aunt Flow dispensers as a way to provide free feminine care products across all three main Mason campuses.
The project was started in Fall 2022, with initial plans to only install a couple of units on the Fairfax campus, but the project expanded to 15 dispensers. Although they’ve only recently been installed, they have already made a positive impact across our campuses.
“We've heard so many positive comments about this project,” Said Sophia Nguyen, Student Body President of George Mason University and a member of the Patriot Period Project. “Many students came to us saying how these dispensers saved their lives when they forgot their menstrual products at home as well.”
The current locations of the dispensers can be seen below:
FFX
Mason Square (Arlington)
Sci-Tech (Manassas)
Additional contributors to the project:
Mason Facilities is excited to announce the Custodial Pilot Program launching this fall on the SciTech campus and in Merten Hall on the Fairfax campus.
This pilot program is part of Facilities’ ongoing efforts to establish new service models that enhance Mason’s sustainability, efficiency and service delivery.
The Custodial Pilot Program will impact the following services:
We will begin the transition to centralized trash repositories October 1, 2023. During the pilot, data from SciTech and Merten will be routinely collected and assessed through Fall and Winter 2023. We will be analyzing the data and each of the differences and successes of the pilot programs.
Thank you for your partnership to improve Mason’s sustainability and efficiency -- together we can make a difference! As always our mission is to create a safe, healthy, and high-quality, physical environment for all members of the Mason community.
For further questions, contact the Mason Facilities Customer Service Center at csc@gmu.edu.
*Note: If office cleaning is needed outside of the new frequency, submit a work order.
This pilot program is part of Facilities’ ongoing efforts to establish new service models that enhance Mason’s sustainability, efficiency and service delivery. Beginning on October 1, 2023, this pilot is being conducted on the SciTech campus and in Merten Hall on the Fairfax campus.
The Custodial Pilot Program will impact the following services:
This pilot will also look at more sustainable efforts like reduced bin liner numbers and plastic waste. During the pilot, data be routinely collected and assessed through Fall and Winter 2023.
Trash cans will not be removed from labs. Please continue to use those trash cans to dispose of waste, especially specially labeled and classified waste.
No - this pilot will only impact waste collection processes.
Mason Facilities strongly encourages high levels of engagement during this pilot program. We recommend not storing food in offices (unless it is kept inside reusable, hard plastic, glass, or metal containers) and placing all food waste into the large, centralized trash receptacles within common spaces as soon as possible. These centralized trash cans will be emptied with more frequency, minimizing the time food waste is left out.
Click here to submit a work order. Mason Facilities Customer Service Center will be happy to schedule an office cleaning. In case of a spill, or if immediate attention is needed, call (703) 993-2525 and let our Customer Service representative know, and we'll have someone out asap.
No problem, contact the Mason Facilities Customer Service Center at csc@gmu.edu! We are happy to assist you.
Click here to submit a work order.
Call 911 immediately for safety emergencies like fire, smoke, or gas smells. For maintenance emergencies, call 703-993-2525 to speak to our Facilities Customer Service Center.
Jennifer Ashworth, manager of the Green Studio, received Patriot Green Fund support to revamp the garden in preparation for the new academic year.
The Green Studio, located on the grounds of George Mason University’s School of Art, was founded by Professor Mark Cooley in 2010 as a permaculture garden and outdoor studio and lab space dedicated to hosting ecological art and design projects by students from across the arts and sciences. It has been home to numerous projects over the years and is a campus space where students can volunteer to support its operations while learning about Mason’s natural environment.
Ashworth, who was hired in 2022, wanted to elevate the space in preparation for more student projects in the future. She applied for funding through University Sustainability’s Patriot Green Fund, a $100,000 per year sustainability fund, provided by Mason Facilities, to make Mason’s campuses more sustainable through infrastructure improvements and student research projects. In May 2023, the PGF Committee, which consists of students, staff, and faculty, approved the application and awarded $1,200 towards the acquisition of new soil and plants for the garden.
An overarching goal of the project was to support the garden as a thriving ecosystem that could provide a sanctuary for native wildlife. Ashworth selected native species that would combat overgrowth and facilitate maintenance of the space while also crafting a visually appealing garden.
Beyond the immediate benefits, Ashworth has a long-term plan for the garden. She envisions it as a living, learning laboratory that fosters educational workshops and projects. By collaborating with campus classes including those in the Arts, Environmental Studies, and Civil Engineering, she wants to create opportunities for students to engage in hands-on learning experiences, allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of the ecosystem and sustainable practices.
“I’m excited for the next generation of students to explore the Green Studio," said Jenn. "It’s their space - an open studio space for research, experimentation, expression, or just a space to absorb. It’s wild and beautiful and worth discovering”
To get involved and volunteer in the garden, interested individuals can visit University Sustainability’s volunteer portal or reach out to Jenn Ashworth at jashwort@gmu.edu.
In Summer 2023, Mason Facilities and Mason Recreation completed new pickleball courts next to the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC) field on the Fairfax campus!
As “America's fastest growing sport,” pickleball has taken the DC metro area by storm, including George Mason University. These new pickleball courts have given a new life to the once-there tennis courts, which were rarely used.
The new court also features ROTC pull-up bars, learn-to-play sessions, drills, and open play. More information can be found here.
Shout out to all those who were involved with the project:
Christy Hogan, Sr. Director of University Asset Management
Lee Ann Houston, Assistant Director of Facility Operations from Mason Recreation
Paul Bazzano, Assistant Director of Competitive Sports and Athletic Training, from Mason Recreation
Erich Miller, Grounds Program Manager, Grounds, from Facilities Management
Abu Monjer, Mgr, Projects, Construction, and Infrastructure, Zone 6, from Facilities Management
The Center for the Arts at Mason (CFA) on the Fairfax campus is proud to announce the successful revamp of its zero waste infrastructure, thanks to the support of University Sustainability's Patriot Green Fund. The initiative implemented sleek new waste and recycling stations to improve Mason’s diversion rate, aiming to reach Mason's zero waste goal of diverting 90% or more of waste from the trash.
While digital event programs are readily available for patrons at CFA, the need for paper programs and the subsequent recycling of them still exists. Maura Glascock, Production Coordinator, recognized the potential for increased waste diversion and spearheaded the effort to enhance the zero-waste infrastructure. She applied for funding through University Sustainability’s Patriot Green Fund, a $100,000 per year sustainability fund, provided by Mason Facilities, to make Mason’s campuses more sustainable through infrastructure improvements and student research projects. In May 2023, the PGF Committee, which consists of students, staff, and faculty, approved the application and awarded $17,500 towards the acquisition of these new waste stations.
To optimize their strategy and encourage behavioral change, CFA collaborated with University Sustainability staff members, including Colleen Regan, Zero Waste Specialist, and Amber Saxton, Program Manager - Campus Efficiency. They also sought the expertise of Kevin Brim, Supervisor for Recycling and Waste Management at Facilities Management. Together, they identified the most effective layout for recycling and trash stations, ensuring proper restrictive lid openings and other zero waste design standards were included to discourage contamination. The team also prioritized the aesthetics of the design and selected stainless-steel materials for the bins, ensuring their recyclability at the end of their long lifespan, estimated to be 20 years or more.
As part of the installation, University Sustainability conducted a volunteer waste audit over the summer to establish a baseline contamination rate (9%) and will use this to evaluate improvements in recycling over this academic year. Colleen Regan recognizes the impact this project can have for improving waste diversion across campus.
“CFA’s installation aligns with Facilities' current effort to improve zero waste design standards and guidelines across the University. Collocating waste streams and standardizing bins’ appearance through consistent labeling and color coding are all key design improvements for increasing the University community’s access to recycling. This PGF project provides a blueprint for implementing upgrades that support everyone’s ability to contribute to our zero-waste goal.”
The new recycling bins have already been successfully utilized during summer orientations for the influx of new students, demonstrating their immediate impact in fostering sustainable practices.
Learn how to dispose of your waste appropriately to make Mason even more sustainable! Your actions help the university achieve its zero-waste goal of diverting 90% (or more) of all waste items away from the trash through reuse, recycling, and composting.
Individuals with innovative ideas to further enhance sustainability at Mason are encouraged to reach out through the Patriot Green Fund interest form.
Celebrating Colleen Regan as the August 2023 Employee of the Month
Colleen did an outstanding job organizing and executing the Patriot Pack-Out (PPO) event this year, which captured unwanted items left by students as they moved out of residence halls.
Colleen's work avoided significant waste: PPO diverted over 5500 pounds of useful items from the campus waste streams at Mason's Fairfax and SciTech campuses. Almost 90% of those goods were reclaimed by members of the Mason community.
Colleen’s donation initiative – reduced Mason’s waste, decreased overall costs to Facilities and the university, and redistributed donated items to Mason students in need.
Some highlights:
Colleen took the initiative to completely redesign PPO for 2023. PPO also educates Patriots about acceptable donation items and proper waste disposal. This protects Facilities and Housing and Residence Life staff members from improper and hazardous waste disposal and prevents negative environmental impacts (such as refrigerant leakage from small refrigerators).
More than 50 volunteers participated in donation collection, organization, and inventorying, to support PPO 2023. Donated and redistributed items included clothing and shoes, cookware and dishware, books and educational supplies, household goods and supplies, and much more!
And Colleen does all of this with compassion and a smile. During PPO thousands upon thousands of items were donated, collected, organized, and inventoried before being redistributed.
Interested in submitting a GMU Facilities Employee of the Month nomination? Check out the new process here!
In Summer 2023, The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) partnered with University Sustainability to participate in the Greenhouse and Gardens program via a 6-week Sustainable Food Production class. Class instructor and Greenhouse and Gardens program manager, Donielle “Doni” Nolan designed this class alongside Potomac Heights Organic Garden coordinator Sven Jansen, to educate participants on sustainable agriculture. Topics included composting, plant identification, harvesting, and pest management!
OLLI offers intellectual and cultural experiences in a welcoming atmosphere to Northern Virginia residents in their retirement years. Members seek to enrich their lives through continued learning. OLLI offers daytime academic courses, special events and cultural activities in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
When asked about her experience, OLLI participant Ednamae Trevey said “I was totally unaware that Mason had such a space here [as well as] projects and education programs. It’s been fascinating to see!”
To gauge interest, Nolan discussed the partnership with OLLI and conducted a tour of the greenhouse located near Ike’s. Nolan will also be hosting a virtual lecture about GMO’S and sustainable agriculture in this Fall, so keep an eye out for more information. She plans to continue educating OLLI participants in the upcoming years.
“It's typically folks who are already retired and many of them are very knowledgeable and passionate,” said Nolan “It's an incredible group and the staff are super friendly.”
To learn more about OLLI or to get involved, click here!
Mason Facilities and Housing & Residence Life (HRL) have recently partnered with HBCU school Virginia State University to transfer surplus furniture from Mason Housing buildings. Over 850 pieces of furniture were moved to Virginia State University to furnish newly acquired spaces for the student body.
In Summer 2023, George Mason University redistributed 855 pieces of surplus furniture to Virginia State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Along with being an HBCU, Virginia State is also a Publix State Agency.
This effort was orchestrated and supported by the following Mason staff:
“As the Surplus Property Manager, any surplus property needs to be managed appropriately. This process is classified as ‘Re-Use’ and I am always looking to divert anything from a landfill,” said Pulis. “Finding a way to transfer the property from one agency to another as a viable solution and a ‘Win-Win’ for both Universities.”
The redistribution of furniture was surplus from Mason Housing buildings and consisted of couches, dining chairs, coffee/end tables, and other dorm furniture.
”Being able to repurpose materials versus landfill or incinerator is always best practice towards our Zero Waste Goals,” said Brim “Supporting [an] HBCU school was just the icing on the cake, with the cherry on top.”
Jane Harris (Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Capital Outlay) from Virginia State University responds to the donation, “Thank you for thinking of VSU!”
Pulis looks forward to seeking additional opportunities “to assist agencies in the future in the appropriate handling of surplus property.”
Dr. Shannon Jordan is pleased with the partnership stating, “I am so happy the furniture could be given a second life at Virginia State!”
The Fuse building being constructed on George Mason University’s Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia, is to be a melting pot, of sorts, for students, faculty, entrepreneurs, and scientists.
At 345,000 square feet, the building will house R&D labs, classrooms, offices, corporate innovation centers, incubators, accelerators, convening spaces, and retail
With that in mind, architect Rob McClure, of the firm Page, said the core of the building was designed to feel like a Main Street.
“The planning we developed was really to encourage people to mix together in that Main Street spine with collaboration spaces on both ends,” McClure said. “So when an industry partner comes up the elevator, they don’t go straight to their space. A Mason student doesn’t go straight to their classroom. They mix together in that Main Street spine.”
