USC opens a campus in Washington, D.C., to expand presence in nation’s capital

The College of Southern California introduced Wednesday that as a part of an enormous growth of its presence in Washington, D.C., it had opened a USC Capital Campus within the metropolis’s Dupont Circle neighborhood.

The 60,000-square-foot constructing, for which USC paid $49.4 million, will play host to “high-level conversations” between opinion leaders and function a “hub for researchers and coverage consultants,” officers mentioned in a information launch.

“Washington, D.C., is the pure place for us to ascertain a thriving hub. It’s a nexus for the humanities, public coverage organizations, analysis companies and foundations,” USC President Carol Folt mentioned in an announcement.

She added that the college, which operates quite a few neighborhood applications in Los Angeles, plans to do the identical in D.C. The campus additionally plans to work with native excessive faculties and neighborhood faculties.

USC already has numerous college students pursuing research within the nation’s capital, however the brand new campus will broaden alternatives for each college students and school. Officers mentioned there could be new undergraduate and graduate applications within the arts, sciences, authorities and journalism.

Mayor Muriel Browser Washington, D.C., predicted the brand new campus could be “catalytic” for enhancing growth at D.C.’s northern finish following a COVID-19 stoop in workplace exercise.

College officers mentioned the constructing was designed to LEED Gold environmental requirements, which embody a give attention to vitality effectivity and minimizing emissions, and options an outside rooftop deck with views of the skyline. The constructing will embody research areas, convention rooms and a USC bookstore.

The college’s marching band will journey to Washington subsequent month for a grand opening ceremony, which is set to incorporate a speech from the mayor.

USC joins numerous universities beefing up their presence within the nation’s capital. The Washington Submit reported that Johns Hopkins College not too long ago bought and is renovating a 400,000-square-foot constructing, as soon as residence to the Newseum, for its D.C. campus, which will likely be open by fall. The College of California additionally has a D.C. flagship, close to Scott Circle.