An epicenter of innovation, creativity, and opportunity, George Mason University plays a critical role in generating solutions for the world’s most pressing issues.
The university’s ecosystem of campuses, small business development centers, and community college partnerships are strategically located in the dynamic technology and innovation corridor that runs from Washington, D.C., to Richmond. The Science and Technology Campus (SciTech Campus) is a significant part of that ecosystem, serving the community, the region, and the world as a haven for research and experiential learning, entrepreneurship and collaboration, the arts and well-being, and more.
Location
The SciTech Campus sits at the heart of Virginia's economic innovation district in Manassas, Virginia—strategically located near the nation's capital. As the anchor to the major Innovation District development project in Manassas, the campus is strategically positioned within the Innovation Technology Park for business research and development. This location creates a competitive environment for pioneering academic, research, and business activities, making the SciTech Campus a strong partner for local businesses, government agencies, and global research firms.
The campus provides convenient university access for residents of Prince William, Fauquier, western Fairfax counties, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and adjoining areas to the west and south.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
The 134-acre campus serves more than 4,000 students across five innovative facilities specially designed for classrooms, laboratories, libraries, recreation, the arts, and other uses. Researchers at the SciTech Campus are working in the critical areas of life and forensic sciences, aerospace and defense, cybersecurity and data infrastructure, and electronics. The campus is home to innovative institutes, including the Institute for Biohealth Innovation, Virginia's Serious Game Institute, and the Biomedical Research Laboratory—one of 13 regional biocontainment facilities to support infectious disease research.
The new Life Sciences and Engineering Building houses more than 30 customized and discipline-specific lab spaces for teaching and fabrication, designed to revolutionize hands-on learning, research, and discovery for students. Campus facilities equipped with sophisticated technology provide students with hands-on learning opportunities to carry into their professional lives, enabling them to make advances in science, engineering, and computing, and shepherd those discoveries from lab to market.
Future Growth and Opportunity
As the region is poised for pivotal expansion with the new Innovation District, the SciTech Campus is primed with boundless potential. All this activity drives economic growth and positions the campus as a vital part of the George Mason ecosystem, creating a network of opportunity that is unparalleled in Northern Virginia. With on-campus graduate housing and shuttle transportation available to the Fairfax Campus and Mason Square, the SciTech Campus provides a place to live and learn while remaining connected to the region.
Community and Cultural Hub
Home to the Hylton Performing Arts Center and the Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center, the SciTech Campus serves as an arts, culture, and entertainment destination for the region.
The Hylton Performing Arts Center hosts more than 160 performances a year and features one of only three opera houses in the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan region. More than 115,000 total attendees participate in the Hylton Center's events and performances each year. Renowned artists from around the world regularly grace the stages, sharing music, theater, dance, and more. The center also offers regular community programming—from educational arts programming for all ages to the Veterans and the Arts Initiative, which provides free hands-on workshops and concerts for military-connected individuals and families.
The Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center, open to both the George Mason community and local residents, promotes healthy lifestyles through quality educational and recreational programs and its full-service facilities.
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Master plan for the Prince William Institute (now known as the SciTech Campus). This was one of the final designs before groundbreaking began in 1995.
History
Opened in 1997 thanks to a university partnership with the City of Manassas and Prince William County, George Mason University's Science and Technology Campus has served as a pioneering hub of innovation in Northern Virginia for over 25 years. Originally established as the Prince William Campus to provide convenient university access for residents of Prince William, Fauquier, and western Fairfax counties, the campus has consistently delivered cutting-edge education directly to its surrounding communities. Home to groundbreaking programs in bioinformatics, biotechnology, and information technology, the SciTech Campus addresses critical national and regional demands for skilled professionals in these high-growth fields.
The SciTech Campus has far exceeded its initial charge by contributing to George Mason's R1 research status, with its groundbreaking research across disciplines. As the region is poised for a pivotal expansion with the new Innovation District—a transformative 3,800-acre economic development zone—the SciTech Campus is primed with boundless potential to further cement the region's position as a leader in technology and scientific advancement.