Spring 2025 Quarterly Fuseletter
Fuse at Mason Square is Open for Business
After a multi-year development, design, and construction process, Fuse at Mason Square is open for business!
The Mason Innovation Partners project team celebrated the opening of the building’s commercial spaces with Mason, elected officials, and industry partners, following the receipt of the commercial Certificate of Occupancy last fall.
The December 2024 Commercial Launch event included remarks from U.S. Representative Don Beyer, George Mason University President Dr. Gregory Washington and Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement Liza Wilson Durant, Arlington County Director of Economic Development Ryan Touhill, and Edgemoor Managing Director Brian Naumick.
Guests also had the opportunity to experience cutting-edge Mason research demonstrations in the robotics lab and check out the views on the rooftop terrace.
Fuse at Mason Square achieved Substantial Completion and received its Certificate of Occupancy in February 2025.
Commercial tenants are already moved in and have begun working in the new building. Mason is in the process of moving faculty and staff into the building and classes for undergraduates and graduate students will begin in the fall semester.
Looking for a sneak peek at the building? Keep an eye out for upcoming events and other opportunities to experience Fuse.
Fun Fact: Small, local businesses played a significant role in Fuse’s delivery—from construction to professional services, Virginiacertified SWaM businesses were awarded over 30% of the total project cost.
Photos by Ron Aira/Mason Creative Services
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Virginia-based Restaurant to Open New Location at Fuse
Wood & Iron, a Richmond-based sports bar and restaurant, has unveiled plans to open its doors at Fuse in Fall 2025. The restaurant will offer an elevated full-service food and beverage experience, and aims to serve as a dynamic social hub, activating the surrounding neighborhood and bringing people together through a shared love of sports and great food.
Fun Fact: Wood & Iron owners Steve Rogge and Kevin McGrath were roommates in Arlington in the mid 2000s. After building a successful restaurant concept in Richmond, they look forward to bringing Wood & Iron back to their old stomping grounds in Arlington!
Mason Industry Partnerships Bear Fruit at Fuse at Mason Square
Fuse breaks the mold of a traditional office building. Tenants at Fuse benefit from being part of a unique innovation ecosystem that fosters cutting-edge collaboration and growth.
With unparalleled access to world-class faculty and Mason’s graduate students in computer science, researchers have the opportunity to engage in groundbreaking work and explore collaborative research initiatives. Furthermore, the building’s design supports innovation with customizable and secure facilities, ensuring a dynamic and flexible environment that meets the needs of diverse projects.
For these reasons, several of Mason’s existing research partners have taken space at Fuse to maximize their potential and continue working together towards new discoveries.
Cybastion, a U.S.-based technology company focusing on cybersecurity and digital solutions, was among the first commercial tenants announced at Fuse. Cybastion has been collaborating with George Mason University since 2022 on pioneering research in cybersecurity and advancements in 5G/6G technology; Cybastion CEO Thierry Wandji has been working with the Cyber Living Innovation Lab at Mason Square, and George Mason Professor Duminda Wijesekera.
Industry partners, such as Cybastion, can capitalize on the building’s advanced infrastructure to not only advance their work but also to explore monetization of their innovations. By operating within this unique innovation ecosystem, Mason’s research community can maximize their impact, drive technological advancements, and create solutions that shape the future.
Fuse Sets a New Benchmark for Sustainable, Future-Ready Buildings
Fuse at Mason Square is a state-of-the-art facility that sets a new standard for sustainable design and occupant well-being. Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the building features a highperformance envelope with triple-glazed windows, enhanced insulation, and daylight harvesting systems that optimize natural light and reduce energy consumption. Advanced mechanical systems, including energy recovery units and distributed cooling, ensure efficient climate control, while on-site solar panels and the purchase of renewable energy credits help the building achieve its net-zero energy goal.
These features align with the University Presidents’ Climate Commitment and Arlington County’s ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Based on a lifecycle assessment, Fuse has a 10% reduction in embodied carbon compared to an equivalent baseline building.
The building is also future-ready, built to withstand anticipated climate change such as extreme heat and rainfall by incorporating climate-adaptive systems and stormwater management solutions. Water conservation strategies, like ultra-low flow fixtures and native plant landscaping, reduce water usage, while captured cooling condensate irrigates green roofs for fire prevention.
Inside, Fuse enhances the occupant experience through connections to nature, improved indoor air quality, and advanced smart building systems that personalize comfort and optimize energy use. Real-time data on energy and water consumption, displayed on an interactive dashboard, further empowers users to make environmentally conscious decisions, making Fuse a true model of sustainable, future-oriented design. In addition to achieving net-zero energy, the building is expected to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
High-Tech, One-of-a-Kind Event Space Now Available at Fuse
Did you know that Fuse features several event spaces that are available to the public?
The Fuse Conferencing Center opens to the public in June 2025. The 750-person venue offers flexible, high-tech event spaces with the capacity to host up to 2,000 guests, making Fuse one of the largest event spaces in Northern Virginia. In addition to the conferencing center, the lobby and rooftop terrace, offering sweeping views of Arlington and the surrounding area, are open now.
To schedule a tour or learn more, please contact: arlevent@gmu.edu.
Generous Donors Invest in Fuse at Mason Square
In late 2024, Stanley and Rosemary Hayes Jones continued their legacy of philanthropy at George Mason University with a transformative $1.4 million gift to establish the Stanley and Rosemary Hayes Jones Networking Testbed Lab within Fuse. The lab will be dedicated to network applications including secure communications, advanced antennae systems, next-G and O-RAN innovations, with applications in air transportation, high-speed and autonomous vehicles, smart power grids, intelligent buildings, manufacturing, technology and national defense. Expected to open by June 2025, the lab will support both faculty and student research efforts.
This gift follows a $400,000 commitment to the Early Identification Program (EIP) given to George Mason in 2023. The EIP funding supports two program initiatives: the EIP STEM Fusion Expansion, a K-12 program to increase the number of first-generation students pursuing STEM fields, and the Stanley and Rosemary Jones STEM Scholars Program, which provides direct support to EIP students pursuing STEM majors.
Also in late 2024, Victor and Diane Hoskins actively contributed to George Mason’s work to spur the innovative expansion of opportunity in Northern Virginia. In honor of their generous gift of $50,000, a conference space in the Mason Enterprise Suite will bear their name.
“Victor Hoskins has been a champion for the Fuse project and its impact on the region since its inception during the time when he led Arlington Economic Development,” said Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement. “His early insights were invaluable as we developed the vision for a building that would bring together a diversity of thought and expertise and accelerate innovation through collisions between industry, government, and academia. We are thrilled that Victor and Diane have chosen this additional personal support for the project.”
Amarda Shehu Appointed Mason’s Inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer
George Mason University has named Associate Vice President for Research for the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) Amarda Shehu as the university’s inaugural vice president and chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO). In this role, Shehu will lead the strategy and implementation of AI across research, academics, and partnerships for the University, maximizing opportunity and adoption in addressing the world’s grand challenges while leading on ethical considerations, governance, and risk mitigation.
Through her leadership, Amarda will ensure that Fuse becomes a beacon of AI innovation and learning, driving impactful research and fostering a community that is prepared to tackle global challenges using artificial intelligence.
Photo by William Gallagher
Photo provided
Envisioning the Future of Mason Square
Over the past year, George Mason University civil engineering seniors partnered with Arlington County to help shape the future of Mason Square as part of a special capstone project. With strong support from Arlington County Chair Takis Karantonis, the students worked to envision development possibilities for newly acquired university property on Fairfax Drive, directly across from Mason Square.
As part of this two-semester, comprehensive design project, the students are gained hands-on experience in real-world project delivery, including planning, design, scheduling, and construction, with a focus on transportation, structural, stormwater, and site civil engineering. Throughout the project, students have collaborated with both university and Arlington County staff, ensuring their plans align with the community’s goals and contribute to the region’s long-term development. On May 2, they presented their creative ideas and designs to the university and Arlington County, offering a glimpse into how this new space can integrate seamlessly into the growing campus.
Summer Plaza Programming Returns
Warm weather is upon us and the Mason Square Plaza is buzzing with activity! With over fifteen weekly events such as video game socials, art lab, storytime, and pilates, there’s truly something for everyone on the plaza. In addition to weekly events, the Plaza is host to a range of other special events, such as Mason Square Markets and Friday Night Cinema on the Plaza.
Click here to view the Plaza Event Schedule!
