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.”