American University Annual Report 2016-2017

EAST CAMPUS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Four years after breaking ground, American University has officially
opened the doors to East Campus. What was formerly a 900-space
parking lot has been transformed into 8.1 acres of striking new
structures, state-of-the-art facilities, and accessible green space.
Located across the street from AU’s main campus, East Campus
consists of three residence halls and two connected academic
buildings, as well as parking, retail, and administrative spaces.
Supporting AU’s ongoing commitment to energy efficiency, all of the
buildings are on track to be LEED certified. The grounds also feature
12 new plant species, expanding the university arboretum’s inventory.
The Don Myers Technology and Innovation Building houses more
than 70 faculty and staff members and the computer science, physics,
and mathematics and statistics departments. The 70,000-square foot
facility dedicates 14,000 square feet to instructional space, including
10 rooms for seminars and classes of up to 60 students and the AU
Game Lab, Center for Innovation, and Collaboration Lab. A makerspace
is equipped with implements from laser cutters to 3D printers to
sewing machines.
“The [building] represents American University’s most recent
investment in science,” said College of Arts and Sciences dean Peter
Starr. “It is a testament to our commitment to research, technology,
and collaboration across the sciences.”
The three residence halls—Congressional, Constitution, and
Federal—take their names from buildings that stood on AU’s Tenley
Campus, where Washington College of Law is now located. They
provide a total of 590 beds, plus a student fitness center, event
spaces, administrative offices, and 3,000 square feet of retail space.
Students moved into Congressional and Federal in January 2017
and into Constitution in August. The new residence halls encourage
collaboration outside the classroom, with such amenities as a
communal lounge and kitchenette on each floor.
East Campus also expands the university’s meeting and event
venues. With more than 3,200 square feet, the first floor of
Constitution Hall offers theater-style seating for 300 people, while
Congressional’s four conference rooms can each accommodate 18.
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