During its February meeting, the board received updates on and approved funding for Georgetown’s growing Capitol Campus.
One of its newest buildings, 111 Massachusetts Ave. NW, is expected to open this summer after renovations. The building will be home to the School of Continuing Studies, Earth Commons Institute, the Capitol Applied Learning Labs (CALL) and other programs from the McDonough School of Business, School of Health, School of Nursing and Biomedical Graduate Education.
111 Mass. Ave. will have two retail spaces on its street level.
The board approved funding to customize one of those spaces for a future tenant, which will likely be a restaurant, at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and New Jersey Avenue. It also approved the construction of a new 5,600-square-foot campus store in the second retail space.
Georgetown Law’s 1,200-square-foot bookstore will be moved to the 111 Mass. Ave. location, and Barnes & Noble College, which operates the Law Center and Hilltop Campus stores, will continue to manage the store on behalf of Georgetown. The campus store will offer books, Georgetown merchandise, snacks and gifts.
The board approved funding for construction costs to transform the first floor of 500 First St., a building home to academic programs and research hubs, into a health services center.
The Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychiatric Services, Student Outreach & Support, and Health Education Services will operate out of the space and support all Georgetown students on the Capitol Campus. The space is expected to be completed this summer.
Construction Projects on the Hilltop
In addition to the Capitol Campus, the board approved construction requests to buildings on the Hilltop.
The board greenlit renovations for the Leavey Hotel and Conference Center, a former hotel that has been converted into temporary student housing while the former Henle Village is being redeveloped. Beginning next summer, the building will be returned to its original purpose as a hotel.
In collaboration with Crestline Hotels and Resorts, the new manager of the hotel, the five-story hotel will feature 146 modern guest rooms; 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space; and a restaurant and bar. Georgetown will host an open house on Feb. 25 and 26 in the current hotel ballroom for community members to meet the management and design team and learn about the new design. The project is expected to be completed no later than summer 2026.
Georgetown continues to make progress on redeveloping the former Henle Village into a larger, greener and more accessible apartment complex for juniors and seniors. The building is on track to open in fall 2025.
The board also approved a project to replace McDonough Arena’s floors and bleachers this summer. The existing floors will be salvaged and new bleachers will accommodate 1,608 seats.
Work continues on the university’s three-year-long utilities project to replace aging pipes beneath Copley and Healy Lawn with more energy-efficient infrastructure. After converting underground pipes in Healy Circle from steam to hot water and installing new chilled and domestic water pipes, the project team has shifted to Copley Lawn and Old North Way.
To extend these energy efficiencies across campus, the board approved the partial conversion of the Medical Center’s steam system into a hot water system as well. The system will reduce both energy and water used to heat buildings, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and operational costs.
Update on Campaign and Policy Changes
During the meeting, board members received news that the university’s capital campaign has raised $2.47 billion out of its $3 billion goal since the campaign launched in 2023.
The campaign, Called to Be: The Campaign for Georgetown, raises funds to expand the university’s impact for the common good centered around four key commitments: ensuring the student community thrives; shaping the future of teaching, research and learning; advancing the health and security of people and the planet; and building a stronger, more ethical society.
The board also received an update on Georgetown’s work in responding to a shifting regulatory and federal landscape.
Jesuits at Georgetown
The board of directors’ business session featured a panel with Georgetown Jesuits, highlighting the many ways that the Society of Jesus are collaborators with faculty, staff, and chaplains in carrying on the mission of the university.
Moderated by Fr. Mark Bosco, vice president for Mission & Mission, the Jesuits discussed their presence in the lives of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, whether as educators, chaplains, or administrators.
The panel included Fr. Greg Schenden, director of Campus Ministry, Fr. Bill Campbell, rector of Georgetown’s Jesuit community; Fr. Peter Folan., assistant professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies; Fr. Quentin DuPont, Swan Family Assistant Professor in the McDonough School of Business; and Fr. Chris Steck, Healey Family Distinguished Professor in Ethical Issues.
“Jesuits bring an added value to the university on many levels and are fully vested in the success of Georgetown’s mission in this transitional moment of leadership,” said Fr. Bosco. “We were grateful to have been asked to share with the board a bit about our lives and our service to the community here at Georgetown.”
