Mason Building Update

The Jesse W. Mason Building

Newly constructed more than 40 years ago, the Jesse W. Mason Building has long been the hub of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech. These days, the 90,000-square-foot building sits empty, as rehabilitation crews replace worn-out HVAC systems, remodel outdated classrooms, and remove asbestos. We look forward to returning to the newly renovated structure in the summer of 2013, when more than $10 million in upgrades will be finished.

While civil engineering education has changed dramatically over the last 40 years, the Mason Building has not. Today, civil and environmental engineering students are increasingly asked to work together as teams to complete course projects, but space for such collaboration is scarce, forcing students to work in lobbies and hallways. The number of existing faculty offices, classrooms, and labs is insufficient to accommodate both recent and future growth of the School. In addition, classrooms and teaching labs lack modern equipment.

The Institute and the state of Georgia have provided $6 million to remove asbestos, replace HVAC systems, rewire the building and make other critical structural improvements that will repair the building’s core. However, this funding does not address the main issue of improved, quality space to better serve the needs of CEE students, faculty, and staff.  To make all of the needed improvements, CEE has launched a massive philanthropic campaign, which will culminate in the spring of 2013.

"Our goal is to ensure the quality of the finished space matches the caliber of one of the top civil and environmental engineering programs in the world," says Karen and John Huff Chair Dr. Reginald DesRoches. "Those who visit Mason should be thoroughly impressed by the School’s vision and its commitment to education." 

Renderings of the new Mason vision are highlighted in the images below: