George Mason University hosted a three-day planning workshop on May 22,23,and 24, 2017, to explore various short and long term visions for the Fairfax West Campus and Southwest Sector and its connections to Fairfax City, Fairfax County and the region. George Mason University students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well county staff, residents, and businesses, are invited to attend any or all of the scheduled sessions during the three-day workshop.
The workshop, facilitated by Perkins Eastman will look at several aspects of planning, including academic, research and innovation priorities, transportation, facility needs and design issues, partnership models for funding, economic development, athletics, recreation and housing. This type of public input-based planning process previously used at the Mason Square (formerly the Arlington Campus) of George Mason University can be a successful way to ensure that multiple viewpoints are heard in planning for the university’s future.
The kinds of overarching questions that will be discussed during the workshop are:
- What is your vision of success for the Fairfax West Campus? What transformations are needed to achieve that vision?
- What investments are needed to make the Fairfax West Campus a hub for innovation and economic development and other university needs?
- What partnerships are critical to the future success of the Fairfax West Campus?
Updates
Charrette Documents and Presentations
Monday May 22, 2017
- Virtual Tour, Economic Drivers, Fairfax City and County Comments, Innovation District Precedents
- Keynote Presentation by Chris Downing, PE
- White Pater – Putting Innovation in Place
Tuesday May 23, 2017
Wednesday May 24, 2017
Keynote Presentation
George Mason University is pleased to announce that Chris Downing of the Enterprise Innovation Institute at Georgia Tech will be Keynote Speaker.
Chris Downing has more than 25 years of leadership experience at Georgia Tech in technology-based economic development, university outreach and technical assistance, entrepreneurship and start-up support. Downing has served in a number of capacities in the development and success of the Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), Georgia Tech’s primary economic development and outreach organization. His roles have included Associate Vice President of EI2, Director of the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), Associate Director of the ATDC incubator, and several years as a research engineer with the Georgia Tech Research Institute.
Downing played a key role in the expansion and development of ATDC at Technology Square including the origination of Tech Square’s research park and corporate collaboration spaces. His technology-based economic development efforts helped Georgia Tech and the Enterprise Innovation Institute win the prestigious “2014 Innovation Award” from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Tech Square’s ecosystem also won the “Outstanding Research Park Award” in 2014 from the Association of University Research Parks. Downing is currently leading a feasibility study for the expansion of Georgia Tech’s second research park, Technology Enterprise Park, into a broader life sciences and technology innovation district.
Downing’s engineering expertise includes energy efficiency and energy recovery systems, mechanical facilities design, indoor air quality, and manufacturing process systems. He currently serves on advisory boards for the Technology Association of Georgia, TI-GER® Entrepreneurship Program, and the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute. Downing is a registered Professional Engineer in both Georgia and Florida and holds a B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida.
Meet the Mason Team
George Mason University Planning Committee
| Committee Member | Department |
| Traci Kendall | Community and Local Government Relations |
| Frank Strike | Facilities Administration |
| Preston Williams | Strategic Communications |
| Thomas Hardy | Housing and Residence Life |
| Pinskey-Wolfe, Cathy | Facilities Administration |
| Rose Pascarell | University Life |
| Bradford Edwards | Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Ann Moran | Parking and Transportation |
| Josh Cantor | Parking and Transportation |
| Thomas Drerenberger | Facilities Management |
| Paul Liberty | Government and Community Relations |
| Sean Mallon | Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Office of the Provost |
| Deborah Crawford | Research, Office of the Provost |
| Laura Manno | Facilities Administration |
| Joy Staulcup | Facilities Administration |
| Deniz Callahan | Facilities Administration |
| Sarah Gallagher | Government and Community Relations |
| Kevin W McNamee | Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Jay W Marsh | Events & Championships, Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Pamela Patterson | University Life |