USC opens a campus in Washington, DC

The University of Southern California announced Wednesday that it has opened a USC Capital campus in the Dupont Circle neighborhood as part of a major expansion of its footprint in Washington, DC.

The 60,000-square-foot building, which USC paid $49.4 million for, will host “high-level talks” between opinion leaders and serve as a “hub for researchers and policy experts,” officials said in a release.

“Washington, DC, is a natural place for us to build a thriving center. It is a hub for the arts, public policy organizations, research agencies and foundations,” USC President Carol Folt said in a statement.

She added that the university, which runs numerous community programs in Los Angeles, plans to do the same in DC. The campus also plans to partner with local high schools and community colleges.

USC already has a number of students studying in the nation’s capital, but the new campus will expand opportunities for both students and faculty. Officials said there will be new undergraduate and graduate programs in arts, science, government and journalism.

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Browser predicted the new campus would be “catalytic” to spur development on DC’s north end following a COVID-19 slump in office activity.

University officials said the building was designed to LEED Gold environmental standards, which include a focus on energy efficiency and minimizing emissions, and features an al fresco rooftop terrace with skyline views. The building will include study areas, conference rooms and a USC bookstore.

The university marching band will travel to Washington next month for a grand opening ceremony that will include a speech from the mayor.

USC joins a string of universities strengthening their presence in the nation’s capital. The Washington Post reported that Johns Hopkins University recently purchased and renovated a 400,000-square-foot building that once housed the Newseum for its DC campus, which is slated to open in the fall. The University of California also has a DC flagship near Scott Circle.