20 Years Strong and Planning a New Decade
Years of building research and education programs and working in the community have aligned GW and its interests with those of the Commonwealth. While the Virginia Science and Technology Campus celebrates 20 years, GW’s Graduate Education Center in Hampton Roads has served Virginia for more than 50 years, and Graduate Education Centers in Alexandria and Arlington have offered degree programs in their communities for more than a decade.
The GW Virginia Science and Technology Campus opened the doors of its new education and research building in August 1991 on 50 acres in the heart of University Center, land donated by Robert H. Smith, then president of Charles E. Smith Construction, Inc. Located just 12 miles west of Tysons Corner, University Center was a prime site for development.
As the GW Virginia Campus was settling into its new location, Loudoun County became the fastest growing county in the nation, providing the campus a dynamic environment in which to thrive. Today, the original 50 acre campus has grown to more than 100 with four buildings, one of which is on lease to the National Transportation Safety Board for accident investigation training. The original building, now known as Exploration Hall, houses more than fifteen research labs including core facilities for GW's centers of excellence in transportation safety, energy, and high performance computing.
Academic programming has evolved to meet the interests and needs of the region. Programs such as the GW Teachers in Industry Program, GW Science, Technology, and Engineering Day, and the Go Girl Genomics Summer Camp seek to enrich the experiences of Loudoun's public school students. Special events such as a Regional Artist Series with partner ArtSquare/Loudoun Academy of the Arts Foundation, the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Technology Day, the Small Business Development Center “Building Business Together” Conference, and a host of other events and public seminars bring community members and leaders to the growing campus.
The GW Virginia Science and Technology Campus will celebrate its 20th anniversary with the University Center and with the community at large. A year of alumni art exhibits, regional forums, community and corporate partnership events, and a neighborhood community picnic are being planned so keep in touch. Visit www.gwvirginia.gwu.edu for more information throughout this banner year.