Townhouse Row Set to Open Sept. 4

Aug. 19, 2003

By Laura Ewald

University officials are sharpening their scissors, preparing to cut the ribbon on the newest option in GW’s slate of on-campus housing — Townhouse Row — Sept. 4. With its traditional-style facades and brick and stone construction, the eight attached student housing units along 23rd Street between F and G streets, seamlessly blends in with its historical Foggy Bottom surroundings. But the smooth, fresh paint on each of the units’ front door — that signature “GW Blue” — makes the new student housing unmistakably part of the University.

And for members of eight of GW’s greek organizations, the townhouses, which each sleep 24–30 people, also will be home.

“This is really exciting for the whole student body and for the greek community,” said Kris Hart, president of both GW’s Student Association and Phi Sigma Kappa. “It’s a beautiful addition to campus and an outstanding addition to residence hall life.”

Each townhouse has five floors with bedrooms on the third, fourth and fifth floors. The kitchen, living and dining rooms are on the ground floor, and the basement holds the meeting/recreation, laundry and storage rooms.

While fraternities and sororities have a long history at GW, this is the first time some of the organizations will have a place on campus.

“Sororities have never had a home on campus, and now they have a place where members can congregate for social events and meetings, and build stronger bonds,” said Laura Taddeucci Downs, executive director of the Student Activities Center.

But while each townhouse will be home to a fraternity or sorority — Sigma Phi Epsilon, Alpha Phi, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Kappa, Delta Gamma, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Kappa Psi, and Alpha Delta Pi — the buildings are still part of GW residence hall life.

“They have the same guidelines of any residence hall, and they are still bound by University policies and procedures,” Taddeucci Downs said, “which means parties have to be registered with the University, and they will still be governed by health and safety regulations, the University Police Department and all other guidelines of residence hall life.”

Director of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Michelle Honey, who helped to administer the project, designed by Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture and Engineering and built by Hitt Contracting, says her team had the students in mind during every step of the planning process.

“We wanted to create a homey environment for the students, one that would help them come together and have a shared experience,” Honey explained.

Across the street from Townhouse Row, construction continues on the new apartment-style residence hall, Ivory Towers. Marked for completion next August, the structure will hold 710 beds Other amenities include a bathroom for each bedroom, a kitchen, a living/dining room, and TV and high-speed Internet connections, as well as two levels of below-ground parking, retail and dining space, and rehearsal rooms.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu