Updated: Jan. 16, 2025, at 6:40 p.m.
A University official said Tuesday that GW will likely close Mitchell Hall next year for renovations, and that an on-campus Panda Express and Chick-fil-A will open in the coming months after construction delays pushed back the restaurants’ projected fall 2024 openings.
Seth Weinshel, the associate vice president of business services, said at a Campus Plan Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday that officials intend to update Mitchell Hall’s common spaces, entrance and stairway next academic year. He said the project is pending approval from the Board of Trustees, and the University is assessing availability in other residence halls, as Michell Hall would likely need to close for the full academic year.
“We have tentative plans where Mitchell Hall will potentially be offline for fall of 2025 and spring of 2026, where we’re going to do some significant renovations to the building,” Weinshel said at the meeting.
In summer 2019, officials relocated Mitchell residents after maintenance workers discovered mold on the fourth and seventh floors. In November, students reported mold in common spaces and rooms. Weinshel did not say in the meeting if the renovations would address mold concerns.
Adam Aaronson, the assistant vice president of construction management and campus planning, said officials will finalize the firms that will help develop the 2027 campus plan by February and consult community members about the plan in mid-year.
Officials also shared new projected opening dates for the on-campus Chick-fil-A and Panda Express locations, which were initially set to open last fall. Here are some of the meeting’s highlights:
Officials update timeline for on-campus restaurant locations
In April, University officials announced that a Panda Express would open in fall 2024 the space formerly held by Beefsteak on the corner of 22nd and I Street. Weinshel said at the Tuesday meeting that he anticipates the restaurant to complete construction by mid-Feburary.
Weinshel said once the restaurant completes its construction, passes a health inspection and trains its staff, the location will open by the end of February or beginning of March.
University spokesperson Julia Metjian said in April that when Panda Express opens, the restaurant will accept GWorld payments.
Weinshel said Chick-fil-A, which is slated to open on 19th Street in the space formerly occupied by 7-Eleven, is projected to open between late April and early May. Officials said in a February 2024 email that Chick-fil-A would open in Mitchell Hall last fall, but Weinshel said construction delays pushed back the opening date.
Weinshel said the Chick-fil-A will remain open if Mitchell Hall is under construction.
“We’re not going to open Chick fil A and then close it,” Weinshel said.
Karen Zinn, the associate vice president for the Office of Real Estate, said the I Street Roti is “no longer operating” because the business was struggling. She said Roti left its lease early, and the University is working to find a replacement that “everyone will be pleased with.”
“We are in the process of sourcing a new tenant,” she said. “We’re very excited by the prospects.”
Officials complete I Street Mall construction
University officials began renovations to the I Street Mall — the parkway between 23rd and 24 streets next to GW Hospital — in September with plans to install antirat infrastructure and lower plant beds.
Officials initially slated the I Street Mall renovations for over the summer, pending permit approvals and allocated funding from the Board of Trustees.
Aaronson said at a September CPAC meeting that officials will install Xcluder antirodent mesh — a fabric-like product installed in planters to prevent pests — and Big Belly trash and recycling cans, which are sealed to prevent rats from entering. These installations follow reports from community members of a large rodent population on I Street.
Brian Snyder, the interim assistant vice president of construction management and campus planning, said Tuesday that construction to I Street Mall is complete.
“It’s different from our initial scope, but we listened to the community and made those improvements,” Snyder said.
Denise Vogt, a community member and Foggy Bottom Association board member, said she saw rat burrows at the exterior planters near the Metro station elevator, by the GW Hospital and by Ross Hall.
“That’s not something we had contemplated just yet, just because the burrows had tended to be in the central area there, but that’s something we can certainly take back with our team and look at,” Aaronson said.
This post has been updated to correct the following:
The Hatchet incorrectly reported that Aaronson said officials will finalize the 2027 campus plan by February. He said officials will finalize the firms that will help develop the 2027 campus plan. We regret this error.
