George Mason Elementary Modernization

A residential street lined with trees and buildings, including a modern brick structure with large windows and a glass entryway.

Project Information

Status: Construction
Opening Date: Fall 2027
Location: 2601 Cameron Mills Rd.
Contractor: Whiting-Turner
Architect/Designer: VMDO-DC

Standard Construction Hours

Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

*Extended work will be communicated in advance, following City approval.

ACPS Community Liaison	WT Community Liasion
Arthur Carpenter-Holmes, Assistant Director Office of Capital Programs, Planning & Design Email: arthur.carpenter-holmes@acps.k12.va.us Phone: (703) 346-7823	Robert Marengo, Project Manager The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Email: robert.marengo@whiting-turner.com Phone: (240) 482-9694

Construction Timelapse Updates

Watch monthly timelapse videos highlighting ongoing site progress from multiple viewpoints.

March Timelapse - Street View

March Timelapse - Field View

Timeline

Site Plan & Project Documents

DOCUMENT	DESCRIPTION	DATE	LINK
Final Site Plan: Tree and Field Update	Includes tree and field updates	Aug. 4, 2025	View PDF
Traffic Study	Project-related traffic analysis	Feb. 14, 2025	View PDF

Architectural Design and Renderings

Note: These are digitally generated renderings of the campus; designs are not final and subject to change.

Project Overview

The George Mason Modernization Project is the next step in Alexandria City Public Schools’ (ACPS) capacity modernization plan. ACPS determined that due to the facility conditions, inefficient layout of the school, and district-wide capacity needs, George Mason should be replaced. The table below provides a brief overview of key milestones in the George Mason Elementary School modernization project, including planning studies, property acquisition, and swing space preparations. The table below provides a brief overview of key milestones in the George Mason Elementary School modernization project, including planning studies, property acquisition, and swing space preparations.

MILESTONE	SUMMARY	DATE
Feasibility Study Begins	Studio27 began development of a site feasibility study.	Summer 2019
Initial Presentation	Preliminary findings presented to the School Board.	January 2020
Study Presented	Feasibility Study presented to the School Board.	June 2021
Design Selected	ACPS School Board voted and selected one of three conceptual designs	October 2024
Traffic Study	Multimodal Transportation Study conducted by Gorove Slade.	February 2025
DSUP Approval	DSUP approved by City Council	May 2025
Swing Space Occupancy	George Mason students and staff to move into swing space.	2025–27 School Year

Past Meetings & Recordings

October 29, 2025- Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting with Whiting-Turner to provide updates specifically related to construction activities, including demolition progress and construction permits.

July 28, 2025- Virtual Community Meeting

June 9, 2025- Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting with VMDO Architects to provide an update on the interior and exterior design, DSUP timeline, and overall project timeline.

April 29, 2025- Virtual Community Meeting (Swing Space)

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning & Design provided an update on the project timeline and construction progress of the swing space. To view the recorded meeting and presentation visit the 1703 N. Beauregard Swing Space webpage.

March 17, 2025- Virtual SAT Meeting

The Superintendents Advisory Team held a virtual meeting with VMDO Architects.

March 3, 2025- Virtual Community Meeting

January 27, 2025- Virtual SAT Meeting

The Superintendents Advisory Team held a virtual meeting with VMDO Architects.

January 21, 2025- Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting with VMDO Architects to provide an update on the project timeline and schematic design, including traffic scoping, outdoor space utilization, and building elevations.

December 18, 2024- Virtual SAT Meeting

The Superintendents Advisory team held a virtual meeting with VMDO Architects to discuss schematic design elements and outdoor space utilization.

Recorded Meeting

December 16, 2024- Virtual Community Meeting

Nov. 21, 2024- Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting with VMDO Architects to provide an update on the selected conceptual design and project timeline.

October 10, 2024-School Board Meeting

The School Board voted and selected one of three conceptual designs presented.

October 7, 2024- Virtual SAT Meeting

The Superintendents Advisory team held a virtual meeting with VMDO Architects to review the three design options that are being considered.

Recorded Meeting

October 1, 2024- Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting with VMDO Architects to provide an update on the three design options that are being considered.

September 19, 2024- School Board Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team presented three design options to the School Board for information.

Recorded School Board Meeting

September 4, 2024- Virtual SAT Meeting

The Superintendents Advisory team held a virtual meeting with VMDO Architects to review the three design options that are being considered.

Recorded Meeting

September 3, 2024- Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting with VMDO Architects to present three design options that are being considered. The recorded meeting will be available in the coming days

January 22, 2024 - Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting to provide an update on the construction and timeline of 1703 N. Beauregard as a swing space for George Mason and Cora Kelly.

Presentation Slides

June 5, 2023 - PTA Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team joined the George Mason PTA to provide a brief project update.

Presentation Slides

Community Notices

Crane Mobilization Update
Extended Noise Variance Update (All Languages)
- Noise Variance Permit
Construction Hours Update
Parking Restriction Update
Site Release Update

Monthly Update

April 10, 2026

Foundation work, including footings, foundation walls and floor slabs is ongoing. Mock-up construction is now underway at the northeast corner of the site and is visible from the Cameron Mills side. Mock-up construction involves building a small sample section of the future school to test materials and construction details. This allows the project team to confirm quality and make any adjustments before the full building is constructed. All sediment and erosion control measures have been installed and approved by the City. Unusable soils are being removed as needed, and temporary power is now operational.

Pest control services are ongoing and maintained on a monthly basis. Whiting-Turner applied for and has been approved for an extended work hours permit to accommodate upcoming concrete pours at the project site. For more information, please view the full community notice and permit details online. Building coordination and submittal reviews are ongoing and will continue throughout the duration of the project. All work is weather dependent and schedules may be altered based on working conditions.

Campus Design FAQs

How does the use of more glass in school designs balance the benefits of natural lighting and a positive learning environment with concerns about safety?

ACPS is committed to creating modern, engaging learning environments that foster openness, collaboration, and safety. We are able to do so through collaboration during the design process between the Office of Capital Programs, Planning and Design and Safety and Security Services. One of the design features we are incorporating into our new school buildings is the use of more glass in classrooms and hallways. We understand that some may have concerns about how this impacts safety, particularly in situations involving intruders or lockdown drills.

The increased visibility provided by glass is actually a key safety feature. It allows occupants to see potential dangers approaching, enabling them to act quickly and alert other areas of the school. Additionally, it helps responding law enforcement assess the situation more effectively during an active threat, allowing them to identify areas of concern and respond faster. This benefit remains regardless of whether the school has a School Resource Officer. Overall, the transparency supports a coordinated, rapid response, which is crucial for supporting the safety of everyone on campus.

That said, the primary focus for staff and student safety remains preparedness. Following the ALICE protocol (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) is essential for ensuring everyone knows how to respond in the event of a crisis. It’s important to remember that the best way to keep our schools safe is by preventing intruders from entering in the first place. Our design, combined with comprehensive safety protocols and ongoing training, which allows our schools to be secure and welcoming.

What are the green space requirements per Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA)?

During school hours and special school programming times, the green space to the east of George Mason E.S. are intended to function for the recreation of students. In addition, these spaces are open to community use during non-school programmed periods of the green spaces. RPCA staff is actively involved in the design process for the George Mason modernization project by providing feedback to ACPS staff and at Superintendent Advisory Team (SAT) meetings. RPCA input in the modernization process is to enhance the public’s experience of the future green spaces.

What will be the maximum encroachment into the park for the new campus?

All three design options considered in the design phase impact less than 10% of the existing open space. Specifically, Option T is a potential impact of 6%; Option A is a potential impact of 8%, and Option U is a potential impact of 3%. On October, 10, 2024, the School Board voted for school staff to proceed to schematic design with Option A, also known as “Open Heart.”

Will the field be natural grass or artificial turf?

There will be a combination of artificial turf and natural grass with the goal of enhancing the overall use of open space. The George Mason modernization will include age-specific playgrounds, a multi-purpose field, and hardscape play areas to serve the recreation needs of the school and the community. . ACPS works closely with the city’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) to ensure that our shared spaces are well-maintained and provide optimal conditions for play and recreation year-round. If you would like more information on the topic of synthetic turf, including its usage in the City of Alexandria, please see the following link: Synthetic Turf Use in the City of Alexandria.

Is a 3rd floor design possible and has it been considered?

The City of Alexandria’s zoning code for the George Mason site permits a 60’ height limit exception for a school building. The 60’ height could accommodate a third floor.

ACPS and, in consultation with the expertise of the architects, recommend that two stories is the most desirable option for all the goals ACPS has for this project in terms of sustainability, safety, meeting the educational needs of students, and ensuring the school building is compatible with the existing neighborhood character.

Swing Space

During the modernization of their existing campus, George Mason students and staff will occupy the swing space at 1703 N. Beauregard St. beginning in the 2025–26 school year.

In September 2021, ACPS entered the due diligence phase to purchase the building at 1703 N. Beauregard Street. With City Council approved funding for the acquisition on September 18, 2021, and the purchase was finalized on February 11, 2022. Originally an office building, 1703 N. Beauregard has since been successfully converted into a fully functional school facility.

To view photos, construction updates, and more details about the Swing Space, please visit the 1703 N. Beauregard Swing Space webpage.

Advisory Group Members:

NAME	ORGANIZATION/TITLE	EMAIL ADDRESS
John Doyle	North Ridge Citizens Association	john.g.doyle45@gmail.com
Suzie O'Brien	George Mason PTA	suzieperea@gmail.com
Edith Andrade Salazar	George Mason Parent	e.andrade603@gmail.com
Mimi Saunders	George Mason Community Member	andymimisaunders@verizon.net
Dr. Ashley Simpson-Baird	ACPS School Board Member	ashley.simpson.baird@acps.k12.va.us
Christopher Harris	ACPS School Board Member	christopher.harris@acps.k12.va.us
Geoffrey Goode	Alexandria Recreation and Parks	geoffrey.goode@gmail.com
Kirk McPike	Alexandria City Council	kirk.mcpike@alexandriava.gov
Stephen Koenig	Alexandria Planning Commission	swkoenig@icloud.com
Danielle Sims	Alexandria PTAC	danielle.m.sims@gmail.com

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