The University of Georgia will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Delta Hall, its new permanent residential facility located in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. at 608 Massachusetts Ave., NE.

Speakers for the event include Sen. Johnny Isakson; Tad Hutcheson, vice president of community affairs for Delta Air Lines; UGA President Jere W. Morehead; UGA Foundation Chair John P. Spalding; and Torie Ness, a political science major and Washington Semester Program participant.

UGA established the permanent facility in Washington, D.C., to enhance the quality of the student experience while providing significant cost efficiencies. Purchased by the UGA Foundation in 2013 and named Delta Hall this month in recognition of a $5 million grant from the Delta Air Lines Foundation to support UGA in Washington, the facility has undergone extensive renovations. Once a commercial office building, the 20,000-square-foot space is now capable of housing 32 students and additional faculty and staff. 

The three-story building includes classroom and study space, common living areas, conference rooms, kitchens and suite-style rooms. Students are steps away from Stanton Park, a 10-minute walk from the U.S. Capitol building and six blocks from Union Station. 

UGA has a long history of promoting and sponsoring internships in Washington, D.C. 

UGA’s Washington Semester Program was established in 2008, and since that time, 262 students have participated in the year-round residential study program. This year’s class of 29 students—representing 17 majors in five colleges—is the largest, an increase due in large part to the addition of Delta Hall. For over a decade, the Honors in Washington Program, along with several UGA schools and colleges, has offered opportunities for students to intern and study in the nation’s capital. 

Delta’s gift also establishes a lecture series that will feature prominent speakers each year as well as five internships.