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Tours

  1. Take Our Virtual Tour!

    This virtual tour of campus will give you a sense of AU's past, present, and future.

    Stops

    1. Katzen Arts Center

      The Katzen Arts Center houses the Department of Art, Department of Performing Arts, and the American University Museum. Bringing all the visual and performing arts programs at AU, the Katzen Arts Center is designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration in the arts. The center provides state-of-the-art instructional, exhibition, and performance space for all the arts disciplines.

      The center features the extraordinary 30,000 square foot AU Museum, directed by Jack Rasmussen, with a variety of gallery spaces for exhibition of exciting contemporary art from the nation's capital region and the world, along with AU's own Watkins Collection and the collection of Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen.

    2. President's Office Building

    3. Kogod School of Business Building

      The Kogod building houses AU’s business school, named for Robert P. Kogod, a successful business executive and philanthropist. The Kogod School of Business offers tiered classrooms, high-tech team conference rooms, spacious public areas, informal lounges, faculty offices, career development facilities, a financial services and information technology lab, seminar rooms, a student lounge, and more.

    4. Hughes Hall

      Living in Hughes Hall presents students with a unique opportunity for connecting with others who are serious about their academic pursuits. Hughes is home to the Honors & Scholars Programs, which includes the three-year bachelors programs, Academic Focus Living Learning Communities, Community Based Research Scholars, as well as the Honors Program. About two-thirds of the residents are first-year students and the remaining third is second- and third-year students; giving Hughes residents a unique opportunity to connect with students at different levels in their studies.

    5. McDowell Hall

      McDowell Hall is home to Sophomore students. Additionally, the Residential Community Clusters are housed in McDowell Hall. These clusters are student initiated housing experiences that are offered as apartment style experiences along the far wings of McDowell’s 3rd-6th floors. It is an apartment style suite with a shared bathroom, a common area, and kitchen.

    6. Leonard Hall

      Leonard Hall is home to approximately 400 first-year students and is known for its diverse residential population and range of communities both domestic & international. The building has a traditional residence hall design with corridor-style rooms and shared hall bathrooms. Each floor community has a central lounge space containing a kitchen, lounge furniture, and a TV where students are often found studying or participating in events and programs.

    7. Cassell Hall

      Cassell Hall is American University's newest residence hall. Cassell Hall houses Sophomore, Junior, and Senior students in 4 person or 6 person suite-style housing. Each suite has a common living area furnished with a couch, coffee table, dinner table, and chairs as well as individual bathrooms for the suite. Each room in the suite is furnished with a desk, chairs, standard twin beds, two sets of drawers, and a wardrobe.

    8. Battele-Tompkins Buildings

      No building on campus has seen more renovations throughout the years than the Battelle-Tompkins Memorial Building. With more than 80 years of history, Battelle-Tompkins is now one of the most updated buildings on campus and houses the College of Arts and Sciences. Just inside the main entrance is a glass roofed atrium that provides a naturally lit space for performances and lectures as well as a place for students and faculty to gather informally.

    9. Eric Friedheim Quadrangle (The Quad)

      Eric Friedheim Quadrangle, “the quad” to the AU community, is the lush green center of the American University campus. The quad, anchored by the Bender Library on the south and Kay Spiritual Life Center on the north and flanked by the university’s major academic buildings, along the sides, is the center of the 85-acre campus.

    10. Kay Spiritual Life Center

      The 16-foot-tall bronze flame is often the first thing students notice when on campus. It sits atop a structure that, for the past 47 years, has in part defined the university’s character. Since 1965, the Abraham S. Kay Center for Spiritual Life has provided a home for students of all faiths and beliefs, anchoring AU in its commitment to diversity, social justice, and the support of the whole student. Kay currently supports 24 faiths on campus.

    11. Ward Circle Building

      Named in honor of General Artemas Ward, the Ward Circle Building is home to American University's School of Public Affairs.

       

      American University's School of Public Affairs (SPA) is top-ranked by US News and World Report and offers undergraduate, graduate, and executive-level programs to build and enhance careers in public service. The school offers a unique pairing of access to Washington, DC with world-renowned faculty and transformational research, driving progress in policy, politics and public administration.

    12. Hurst Hall

      Hurst Hall is named in memory of Bishop John F. Hurst, the founder and first chancellor of AU. Hurst Hall was the first building constructed on the AU campus and the first home of the "College of Liberal Arts." Construction began on March 9, 1896, and the building was completed on February 1, 1898. Today, Hurst is the site for biology and environmental studies departments, as well as the Honors Program and the Center for Teaching Excellence.

    13. East Quad Building

      Formerly home to the School of International Service, the East Quad Building (EQB) is home to our commuter lounge. The lounge offers a comfortable environment for students to meet up with classmates, finish homework, or just hang out. If offers day lockers for students who live off campus.

    14. Bender Library

      Bender Library is AU's gateway to print and electronic information and research services. The library holdings include more than 1 million volumes, 32,000 electronic journals, and 165 electronic databases.

      Our innovative Research Commons, a comprehensive resource created by the university library with partners across campus, offers a variety of services in one convenient central location. Get on-site training in statistical software and methodology, assistance with writing, research consultations with librarians who are experts in their disciplines, technical help, and access to scholarly resources. Or take advantage of walk-in classes and workshops. And as a member of the Washington Research Library Consortium, 12 million items are at your fingertips.

    15. Mary Graydon Center

      The Mary Graydon Center (MGC) is home to the University Center and many of the food options on campus. The Center houses social and recreational facilities, selected auxiliary services, student organizations, a cyber cafe, dining and meeting facilities, and a number of Campus Life offices.

      On the first floor of MGC, you'll find fast dining options like Bene Pizzeria, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Elevation Burger, Freshii, Global Fresh, P.O.D. Mini Mart, and access to our main cafeteria the Terrance Dining Room.

      The University Center—the main student gathering spot on campus— is on the first floor and features several food eateries, including Einstein Brothers Bagels, Field of Greens, and the University Club. Also on the first floor is The Tavern, the campus’s most popular gathering place, which often hosts movies, parties, and special events. The second floor is a continuation of the University Center, with lounges for informal get-togethers and meetings, space for student government, student-run media, Greek life, and other clubs and organizations. On the lower level is the Terrace Dining Room, or TDR as it’s known on campus.

    16. McKinley Building

      Newly renovated, the McKinley Building is home to our School of Communication.The building features surround sound classrooms, Mac labs, the Forman Theater equipped with a Sony digital 4K cinema projector, a Media Innovation Lab with video wall, a newsroom with AP’s Electronic News Production System (ENPS), and more.

      Embedded in the communication capital of the world, the School of Communication at AU is uniquely positioned to plug you into the most compelling professional and intellectual opportunities of the 21st century.

    17. Letts Hall

      Letts Hall is home to an entirely first-year student population. It has a traditional residence hall design with corridor-style rooms and shared hall bathrooms. It has a tradition and history of being a very involved and engaged community with a strong sense of spirit. The building offers many different types of community spaces including the Letts Formal Lounge, which is used for large events and classes, as well as the Sky Lounge, a multi-purpose entertainment and program space that has some of the most beautiful views of the city.

    18. Anderson Hall

      Anderson Hall is home to the largest first-year population on campus with over 770 residents. Anderson houses the University College program and is also home to the Transfer Living Learning Community. The building has a traditional residence hall design with corridor-style rooms and shared hall bathrooms broken down by north and south corridors. Each floor community has a central lounge space containing a kitchen, lounge furniture, and a TV where students are often found studying and relaxing with friends. Each floor also has a study lounge for residents to utilize as a quite study location or a common meeting space for group projects.

    19. Centennial Hall

      Centennial Hall is home to approximately 400 second-year students and is designed for suite-style living. Each room shares a private bath with one adjoining room. There are six kitchens and six laundry rooms in Centennial Hall. Centennial Hall is connected to and shares desk services with Anderson Hall. The Perch, a lounge space with a coffeehouse atmosphere, is located on the first floor of Centennial Hall.

    20. Butler Pavilion

      The Butler Pavilion connects the Mary Graydon Center and Bender Arena and is the home to the Career Center, the AU Campus Store, retail shops, and administrative offices, including the Office of Campus Life and New Student Programs. The Butler Pavilion also features a board room and conference rooms, which are frequently venues for guest speakers and special events. Under Butler Pavilion you'll find "the tunnel," which features a UPS store, a Starbucks, a Subway sandwich shop, and a convenience store.

    21. Bender Arena/Jacobs Fitness Center

      The Bender Arena and the Reeves Aquatic Center sports complex provides home court advantage for men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, and wrestling on the Stafford H. “Pop” Cassell Court. The university’s state-of-the-art Jacobs Fitness Center has an aerobics studio and cardiovascular and strength training equipment. Adjacent to the Bender Arena is the Sports Center Garage which provides faculty and staff parking during the workday and a free, convenient place for visitors to park when coming to watch a game.