The interiors feature installations by artist and architect Maya Lin, which invite reflection on the connection between humans and nature
Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) has designed the new home of Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy on the Capitol campus, Washington D.C.
With almost 14,000 m² of floor space, the building can accommodate students, faculty, researchers, and other staff, demonstrating how architecture can effectively respond to the functional, social, and sustainability needs of an academic community.
The building’s façade has stone, metal, and glass cladding. Vertical fins and brise-soleil not only optimize solar exposure but also give the architecture a unique identity and provide visual continuity with the style of the surrounding buildings.
The McCourt School of Public Policy houses a variety of learning and common spaces, including 20 classrooms, a large hall, academic offices, a 400-seat auditorium, and a spacious panoramic terrace with sweeping views of the U.S. Capitol campus.
A hallmark of the project is its “traveling staircase,” which weaves its way up through all nine floors of the facility from the light-filled double-height atrium. This pathway invites users to explore different spaces and, therefore, encourages meetings and dialogue between people.
The interiors feature art installations by sculptor and architect Maya Lin, best known for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Titled Mapping Our Place in the World, the collection encourages occupants to reflect on their connection with the natural environment.
One work, Following the Potomac, is a composition of suspended glass spheres that recalls the contours of the Potomac watershed. Another, Whether Birds, comprises a series of lights that change color according to the weather.
Lin also contributed to the design of The Sky Garden, a rooftop terrace adorned with native plants, such as birch, pine, ferns, and grasses, which celebrates the local ecology and provides a tranquil refuge for users.
Sustainability and energy efficiency were key elements in the design of the McCourt School of Public Policy. Designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification, including through energy management and the selection of materials, the building reflects Georgetown University’s environmental goals. Additionally, the design takes into account energy sustainability as well as the well-being of occupants, resulting in architecture that meets the highest standards of comfort and environmental performance.
Location: Washington D.C., USA
Completion: 2024
Area: 13.935 m2
Client: Georgetown University
Architect: Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA)
Art: Maya Lin
Photography by Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA