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McCourt School of Public Policy: In Harmony with the Urban Context

The interiors feature installations by artist and architect Maya Lin, which invite reflection on the connection between humans and nature

Maya Lin Studio | RAMSA

McCourt School of Public Policy, Washington D.C.
By Editorial Staff -

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.

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

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.



McCourt School of Public Policy: New Spaces in Dialogue with the Capitol Campus

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

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.

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

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.

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

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.

 

Artworks by Maya Lin

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

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.

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

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.

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

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.

 

Commitment to Sustainability

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

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.

 

>>> Discover the project for the redevelopment of the Warburg Institute in London by Haworth Tompkins.

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

McCourt School of Public Policy ©Francis Dzikowski/OTTO, courtesy of RAMSA

 

Credits

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

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