Georgetown Celebrates Opening of New Building

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q) celebrated the official opening of its new building in Education City on February 13th, 2011. The memorable affair marked an important milestone in the history of the University’s valued partnership with Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

Prior to the official inauguration ceremony of the new building, a special VIP tour was organized for Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, H.E Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Emiri Diwan, along with other distinguished guests.

The tour took the distinguished guests around the building’s state-of-the-art facilities, showcasing the new public library – which houses one of the country’s most extensive collections of books and material – as well as a special photo exhibition dedicated to the physical beauty of the building and the occasion of its inauguration.

During the tour of the building, Ibrahim Al Derbasti, SFS-Qatar Class of 2010, summed up the pride of both alumni and the current student body of Georgetown University’s campus in Qatar: “We thank Her Highness for the opportunity to study at Georgetown in Education City. We represent a mix of nationalities, majors and post-graduate career paths. I think all of us here would agree that our time at Georgetown has opened many doors for us already, and we are very excited about Georgetown’s new home in Education City.”

The official inauguration ceremony held in the evening was attended by Her Highness, the Prime Minister, senior leadership from the Qatar Foundation community, distinguished guests from Georgetown University’s home campus and the entire SFS–Q student body.

“In 2005, when Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service first opened its doors here in Qatar, we found a partner who shared our vision. Georgetown’s commitment to educating lifelong learners, dedicated to justice and the common good, echo the standards that have made Qatar Foundation and Education City so successful,” Her Highness Sheikha Mozah noted in her message.

Mehran Kamrava, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the School of Foreign Service in Qatar welcomed the audience. “At the beginning of the twenty first century, Georgetown ventured out of its traditional confines, left its comfort zone at the hill top in Washington, D.C. and began a partnership with Qatar Foundation. Our strong and vibrant partnership with Qatar Foundation, and our new spectacular home, would not have been possible without the vision and patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser,” he said.

Thanking the Education City community, Georgetown President John J. Degioia said, “The entire Georgetown community is proud of this achievement and deeply grateful for all of your efforts to create a campus that all Hoyas are proud to call home.”

“We may be 7,000 miles or 11,000 kilometers away from the campus of our founding, but we are one community – enlivened by our common pursuits of scholarship and service – emboldened by the strength of our bonds – and engaged in the pursuit of our highest dreams.” he added.

In appreciation of Georgetown’s deep partnership with Qatar Foundation, Dr. Abdulla Bin Ali Al-Thani, Vice President for Education at Qatar Foundation, said: “Georgetown has brought to Qatar the fine quality of its teaching in Washington, DC…It is also establishing a proud research record and enriching our society through its program of conferences and lectures, as well as its collaboration with other public institutions.”

“The School of Foreign Service in Qatar is an active partner in the continuing development of a world-class centre of academic excellence at Education City.”, he added.

The opening ceremony was particularly special to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who is a 2009 graduate of the School of Foreign Service in Qatar. “Georgetown was a major turning point in my life. It is a journey of people, it’s a journey of interaction, of opening up doors and widening of perspectives.” said Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani.

“I’m proud to be a product of Qatar Foundation. I’m proud to be a product of Georgetown University. But most of all, I’m proud to be a product of the School of Foreign Service here in Qatar.” he added.

Emphasizing the significance of the vision behind Qatar’s development and investment in human capital, H.E Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah said: “Just as the strong foundation of this building supports the walls and protects its inhabitants, we must lay the foundation for Qatar to secure wealth and prosperity for our children and grandchildren. Under the leadership of His Highness the Amir, Qatar’s 2030 National Vision lays out a plan to ensure the development and growth of our nation.”

President DeGioia presented Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser with a sculpture of a lyre, a traditional musical instrument invented in ancient Mesopotamia that later spread around the world. The instrument is also found inscribed in the University’s seal. The sculpture, designed by Washington, DC, artist John Dreyfuss, represents the unification of cultures through music, beauty and art.

To commemorate the occasion, the day’s program began with a symposium titled “The World in 2050”, which focused on global issues and their impact on diplomacy and education. The moderator of the symposium was the Carol Lancaster, Ph.D., Dean of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

In addition, Dean Lancaster, Interim-Dean Kamrava and Saad Al Muhannadi, Vice President of Capital Projects and Facilities at Qatar Foundation addressed local and regional media at a press conference hosted by the University on Sunday prior to the ceremony. Dean Kamrava extended Georgetown’s gratitude and appreciation to Qatar Foundation and thanked Mr. Saad Al Muhannadi for the state of the art home which Capital Projects built and dedicated to Georgetown University in Qatar.

The new building is the realization of Qatar Foundation and Georgetown’s shared vision of education. Qatar Foundation provided this teaching and learning facility to Georgetown University Qatar so that the university can deliver its world-class programs in a state-of-the-art setting.

Designed by renowned Mexican architects Legorreta+Legorreta, the team worked closely with Georgetown and Qatar Foundation to create a space that would maximize student learning.

The new Georgetown building covers 360,000 square feet (40,000 square meters), featuring a three-story high atrium, an auditorium with a seating capacity for 350 people, and 14 classroom and lecture halls that will provide students with an inviting and functional space for learning and activities. Ample outdoor space and courtyards allow natural light to penetrate into the building’s interior. A special architectural feature includes the columns along the building’s entrance, which are inscribed with poetry that reflects Georgetown’s commitment to knowledge, inquiry, diversity and dialogue. The new extensive library and a collection of water features inside and outside the building also add to the character and a sense of openness to the new building.

Georgetown Qatar’s new permanent building is a source of pride in Qatar and throughout the University’s community around the world. The building inauguration celebrates a milestone for Georgetown and underlines the University’s commitment to provide world-class education in Qatar.