April 15, 2003
Elliott School Expands into New Horizon
School, Geography Department, Move Into New E Street
Facility
By Greg
Licamele
With the Washington Monument looming quietly in the distance and the
US Department of State abuzz with activity across the street, Elliott
School of International Affairs (ESIA) Dean Harry Harding thinks the
new facility at 1957 E St., NW, puts his school “on the map, figuratively,
as well as literally.”
The 331,000-square-foot, eight-story building is nearing full completion
as one of its major tenants, the Elliott School, recently moved in from
its former home in Stuart and Lisner halls (which the Law School now
will occupy). US Secretary of State and GW graduate Colin Powell has
accepted an invitation and is scheduled to attend an early September
celebration of the building.
It’s an understatement to suggest the difference between facilities
is significant.
“Many of our offices, especially our academic advising and student
services offices in the old building were literally in the basement,”
Harding says. “The facilities were less than adequate. Now those
same staff have one of the best views in Washington out their windows
and morale has shot up as a result.” (Read full
interview with Harding).
The Elliott School’s new home will include larger and better-equipped
classrooms (though not exclusively ESIA classrooms) and will provide
more room for undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and more space
for visiting scholars and faculty. In addition, the building will have
more comfortable undergraduate and graduate lounges, and a state-of-the-art
commons for public events and private meetings. The new facility also
will enhance ESIA’s ability to create a meeting ground for students,
faculty, alumni, and friends to engage in intellectual exchanges with
international experts, policy makers, foreign leaders, and dignitaries.
Elliott School benefactors, including its namesake, were celebrated
at an April 3 event. A portrait of Lloyd and Betty Elliott painted by
artist John Patrick Campbell, IV (BA, ’97), who apprenticed with
GW Professor Frank Wright, was unveiled. Lloyd Elliott served as GW’s
president from 1965–88.
The building’s entry corridors also will showcase artwork from
the Luther W. Brady collection.
Students have been enjoying the new location since the residential portion
of the building opened in August. With 55 one-, two-, and three-bedroom
apartments (200 beds), the residential tower has added another living
option for GW students.
One of the final pieces of the building puzzle that will move in over
the next few weeks is the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences’
Department of Geography, which will occupy the fifth floor.
Encompassing 5,000 square feet, the Department of Geography’s new
location will accommodate its growing program — from its spatial
analysis laboratory to a formal map library to 1,000 students a year
enrolling in geography classes. The first floor lobby of the new building
will contain the department’s popular 4Winds Weather Station (in
association with NBC affiliate WRC-TV), with the actual measuring device
moving to a better location on the roof of Mitchell Hall.
“[W]hen people come to the building to listen to speakers or to
participate in workshops and conferences, I think they will be very
impressed by what they see,” Harding says.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
