:: The Campus of George Mason University

Fenwick Library was named for Charles Rodgers Fenwick. Fenwick played a very important role in the development of George Mason College. As a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1939-1947 and the Virginia House Senate from 1947-1969 from the Arlington district, he participated actively in higher education. He was the Rector of the Board of Visitors for the University of Virginia from 1964-1965 and an active participant of the Advisory Committee for George Mason College from 1966-1968. The president of the University of Virginia, Edgar Shannon, Jr. gave Charles Fenwick credit for being "one of the state legislators most instrumental in getting George Mason College established as a branch of the University of Virginia."

Finley Building was named after John Norville Gibson Finley. Mr. Finley was a pioneer in higher education in the Northern Virginia area. He attended Lafayette College, The Johns Hopkins University, the University of Virginia, and Cambridge University. In 1950 he was appointed dean of the University of Virginia Extension Division Center and sent to Arlington, Virginia, to survey, plan, and develop the rapidly growing area of Northern Virginia. Mr. Finley realized the demand for higher education was so pressing that he immediately arranged for six evening courses for sixty-three students. In the fall of 1952, two years after the courses had begun, enrollment had reached more than 500 students. The work that Mr. Finley did lead to the expansion of higher education in Northern Virginia and eventually George Mason University.

Harris Theatre was named after Holbert Laird Harris. He was born in 1883 and lived his entire life in Northern Virginia. Mr.Harris was one of the founders of the Northern Virginia Construction Company and served as the president for many years. He was best known for his philanthropic contributions to many groups in Northern Virginia. These groups included religious, humanitarian, community and educational organizations like the Salvation Army and Medical research programs. Mr. Harris established many charitable trusts, one of which benefited George Mason University. Mr. Harris died in 1965. The theatre that is named after him was dedicated on October 24, 1981.

The George W. Johnson Learning Center is named after George Mason's president George W. Johnson. He earned his doctorate in English Literature at Columbia University in 1960. He taught American literature and was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Temple University in Philadelphia before joining George Mason University, whose president he became in 1978. During his tenure at George Mason University, he promulgated a vision of creating the "interactive" university, one in which the university's educational community joins with business and the general community, as well as high technology, and the arts and humanities. George Johnson has been chairman of Virginia's Council of public colleges and universities; he served twice as president of the Association of Virginia Colleges and Universities. For four years he served as the Virginia representative to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. George W. Johnson holds honorary degrees from Shenandoah University and James Madison University. In 1984, he was named Washingtonian of the Year. At the end of his tenure as president, in 1996, the George W. Johnson Learning Center was inaugurated and dedicated in his name. At the same time, a statue of George Mason was placed in front of the building.

King Hall is named after the former Provost David King.

Krasnow Institute is named after Shelley Krasnow. He was trained as an electrical engineer and he thought of himself as an individual with a broad outlook. He was a man of many talents and depth in his quest for knowledge, and devoted himself to research for improved medical treatments. Science remained prominent among his varied interests. As a thinker and philanthropist, Shelley Krasnow's life-long quest for knowledge gained him a reputation as a philosopher, humorist, and advocate for fulfillment derived from engaging work. When Shelley Krasnow died in 1989 he had bequeathed a substantial portion of his extensive estate to two charities. One was to the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges reflecting his long time commitment to excellence in education. The second bequest was to establish an institute whose purpose was for the general advancement of human knowledge for the betterment of mankind. From this bequest trustees were appointed and in collaboration with George Mason University, The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study was created. The work of the Institute began with a major scientific conference, co-sponsored with The Sante Fe Institute and hosted at George Mason University. This conference on The Mind, the Brain, and Complex Adaptive Systems brought together an extraordinare group of scientists including two Nobel laureates and produced exciting new approaches to this frontier. The collaborative efforts set the Institute on the path of seeking to understand the human mind: how it came to be, how it relates to the electrochemical activities of networks of nerve cells in the brain, how it can be modeled on computers, and how it is a vital component of what we are. A second strand of inquiry also emerged: how can understanding the human mind be applied to help us in education, decision-making, and all those countless activities than involve events in our cerebral cortices and end up in the actions that define our individuality and our contribution to mankind? All of these areas of interest come together under the general heading of cognition, the essence of the Institute's mission, and the legacy of Shelley Krasnow's vision.

Krug Building is named after Dr. Robert Charles Krug who was President at George Mason University in 1976-1977. During the duration of his stay here at Gerorge Mason; Dr. Krug served as Dean of the College, Dean of the Faculty, and Provost. Dr. Robert Charles Krug is form the Richmond area. He attended the University of Richmond and in 1940 he recieved a B.S. in chemistry and then his masters degree in 1941 from Pennsylvania State University. By 1944 he had received his doctorate from Ohio State University. He then served as a research chemist in Philadelphia for four years. While Dr Krug taught at Washington and Lee University and at Virgina Polytechnic Institute, he received the W.E. Wine Award in 1957 for excellence in teaching. He was head of the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic from 1958-1965. Mr. Krug had held a number of offices in professional chemical societies and had served as a consultant in chemistry. Robert Krug is also co-author of a number of articles published in professional journals.

Mason Hall is named after George Mason.

The Robinson Buildings (Robinson A and Robinson B) are named after Clarence J. Robinson. Born in Alexandria in 1897, Robinson attended the University of Virginia but interrupted his studies during World War I. After the war, he entered the world of business. In 1921, he became president of George H. Robinson and Sons, and in 1939 he founded the Robinson Terminal Warehouse Corporation. In 1957, Robinson became president of the First and Citizen Bank in Alexandria. Robinson has had an abiding interest in education and has contributed greatly to many educational institutions in Northern Virginia. Robinson was a member of the Advisory Committe of the George Mason College and its chairman from 1964 to 1969. Clarence J. Robinson died in 1983. In his will, he bequeathed funds to George Mason University. Part of this bequest was used to establish the Clarence J. Robinson Professorships. In 1975, Robinson A was dedicated to Clarence J Robinson "in recognition of his effective commitment to higher education and his continued contributions to George Mason University."

Thompson Hall, formerly Arts and Sciences Building is named after the university's first president, Lorin A. Thompson. He was was educated at Ohio State University, where he earned his bachelor, masters, and PhD degrees. In 1944, he was appointed director of the University of Virginia's Bureau of Population and Economic research. He held this position until 1966. He also served as professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia from 1958-1966. In October 1966, Lorin A. Thompson was appointed first Chancellor of the George Mason College of the University of Virginia. One of his first action was the request for an additional 450 acres for expansion of the college. The Northern Virginia Sun quoted him as saying: "If the land is not acquired now by the college, it will be developed by the owners and such plans may not be compatible with long range plans for the development of a regional university." Thompson served as Chancellor until 1972. In April 1972, the George Mason College of the University of Virginia became the George Mason University, and Thompson was appointed its first president. Upon his retirement in 1973, the new Arts and Sciences Building was changed to Thompson Hall in his honor.

Anderson Beckwith and Haible
Boston, MA

The firm of Anderson Beckwith and Haible served as consulting architects for the 1968 Masterplan developed by the firm of Joseph Saunders and Associates.

Appleton

• East Building
• West Building
• North Building (Finley Hall)
• South Building (Krug Hall)

• Masterplan for Prince William Institute
• Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study

DMJM

• Fenwick Library

Science and Technology II
The firm was established in 1974. Its work focuses on commercial buildings and offices, health care and educational buildings, industrial/manufacturing buildings and correctional facilities.

Notable projects

• Flint Hill Elementary School, Rockville, MD
• Facility Support Center, Herndon, VA
• Academic Building, Manassas, VA
• Boys Probation Home, Fairfax, VA
• Transit Center, Woodbridge, VA

• Parking Garage Plaza

• Shipping and Receiving Warehouse

Notable projects:

• Chantilly Regional Library, Chantilly, VA
• Mary Riley Styles Library, Falls Church, VA

• King Kall

• Center for Business and Public Policy
• Aquatic Center

Notable projects:

• The Thurman Arnold Building, Washington, DC
• Law School, Catholic University, Washington, DC
• NIH Masterplan, Bethesda, MD
• Healy Building Restoration, Washington, DC
• Falls Church Community Center, Falls Church, VA
• Reston YMCA, Reston, VA

• Humanities I (Performing Arts)
• Robinson Hall
• Harris Theatre

Plan and elevations for Enterprise Hall

• Commerce Building I (Enterprise Hall)

• 1991 Masterplan
• University Center (George W. Johnson Learning Center)

Notable projects

• Carpenter Center for Performing Arts, Richmond, VA
• Jepson School of Leadership, Richmond, VA
• Medical Science Research Facility, Richmond, VA
• Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA

• Humanities III (Theater)

• Student Union I
• Student Union II

• 1960 Masterplan.

Saunders Cheng and Appleton

• 1979 Masterplan

The firm was established in 1953. Its work focuses on commercial buildings and offices, educational buildings, government buildings, hospitality buildings and sports facilities.

• 1979 Masterplan
• 1987 Masterplan

• Recreation facility, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
• Student Union, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
• Masterplan for the University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
• Masterplan for Lewis and Clark College, Portland OR

• Prince William Institute (1993)

• Field House

• the award-winning Reston Town Center townhouses, Reston, VA.

• Thompson Hall
• Humanities II (Fine Arts)

• 1960 Masterplan

• Fenwick Library
• Lecture Hall

• 1968 Masterplan

• Science and Technology I

• Design Concept for Patriot Lake
• Design Concept for Humanities Node (1988)

Wright, Jones and Wickerson

• Entrance to George Mason College of the University of Virginia from University Drive.

Commons

Credits

Faculty:

Ann Palkovich, Sociology and Anthropology, Egon Verheyen, Robinson Professors, and Joe Wood, Geography and Earth Systems Science (GESS)

New Century College Students: 

David S Avis, Matthew A Carper, Daronda K Combs, Stephan Huebner, Renee Lewis, Soledad N. Roybal, and Stefan De Wilde.

Further assistance was provided by Brenda Miller (Plant Management), Shelly Pellish (AIA)