George Mason University Campus Master Plan

A master plan establishes a vision, plan, and process for a campus that embodies restoring ecological connections.

George Mason University, a public institution that was established in 1957, was named for George Mason, a founding father, who drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Today George Mason University is comprised of ten schools and colleges, has an enrollment of over 37,000 students from more than 130 countries, and houses more than 6,000 students on campus. The most recent comprehensive master plan for George Mason University’s main campus in Fairfax was completed in 2002. Since the completion of the 2002 Master Plan, Mason has experienced significant growth in enrollment, which prompted a new master plan. George Mason University requested that the updated master plan establish a vision, plan, and process for the current and future growth of the University.

Working on a team with Dumont Janks, Biohabitats supported the University’s master planning efforts for the Fairfax, Arlington, and Sci-Tech campuses as the ecological consultant. Biohabitats’ role included conducting a desktop data assessment and rapid field visits to establish a broad understanding of the University’s existing ecological conditions, as well as future opportunities and constraints. The team considered native wildlife and habitat conditions, the existence of non-native invasive plant species, the presence of sensitive resources like wetlands, streams, and interior forest core habitat, as well as regional landscape ecological connections. As the project progresses, Biohabitats will continue to contribute feedback on ecological design considerations, green infrastructure, and environmental management.