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Facilities

175th Anniversary Celebration

Founders Day 2026 Reception and Tours

Turning Potential Into Power: The Shoulders Upon Which We Stand

A cherished tradition at the University of the District of Columbia, this commemoration honors the rich history and enduring legacy of the institution. This annual celebration connects students, faculty, alumni, and the community to commemorate the institution’s 1851 heritage as an urban land-grant university. All are welcomed on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. in the UDC Theater of the Arts Auditorium on the Van Ness campus.

UDC-CAUSES will host a networking reception and tours. Attendees can tour the College's Green Roof,  Firebird Immersive Innovation Laboratory and Maker Space, Nutrition Assessment lab, and Environmental Quality Testing Lab.

  • Time: 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Location: 4250 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, D.C.| Building 71, Floor 5

Tour Highlights

Student in Environmental Quality Testing Lab

Environmental Quality Testing Lab

The nationally-accredited environmental testing lab offers full-service elemental sampling and analysis to customers in the DC Metro Area and beyond. Managed by the Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) of the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), Environmental Quality Testing Lab (EQTL) provides a wide range of services, including high-quality reliable and affordable analytical, and field sample collection services. 

Services Offered

  • Comprehensive Environmental Testing
  • Verified Data & Expert Interpretation
  • Convenient Sampling & Courier Support (D.C. only)

Location: Building 42, Room 110

Request a Quote

Students using virtual reality in the Firebird Immersive Innovation Laboratory and Maker Space.

Firebird Immersive Innovation Laboratory and Maker Space

The Firebird Immersive Innovation Laboratory and Maker Space is an integrated design and fabrication facility that supports immersive, human-centered architectural innovation. This lab enables students to explore, visualize, prototype, and physically construct projects while evaluating spatial performance and user experience. 

Key Features:

  • High-performance computing systems with advanced 3D modeling, rendering, and VR software
  • Virtual Reality headsets for real-time immersive spatial exploration
  • 3D printers and laser cutters for rapid prototyping and fabrication
  • Collaborative workstations supporting digital and hands-on design workflows

Location: Building 32, Room 205

Green Roof on top of Building 44 on the UDC Van Ness Campus

UDC Green Roof: A Living Laboratory for Urban Horticulture

Established in 2015, the University of the District of Columbia’s 20,000-square-foot green roof at the Van Ness campus showcases stormwater management, energy efficiency, and urban agriculture. It features productive growing zones with herbs and vegetables serving as an urban counterpart to UDC’s Firebird Research Farm in Beltsville, MD. The green roof has become a dynamic hub advancing the university's strategic plan:

  • Research: Studying rooftop crop performance, resilient varieties, and climate-adaptive techniques for urban food security.
  • Extension: Offering workshops, tours, and outreach to gardeners, farmers, and stakeholders.
  • Education: Delivering hands-on learning for students in urban agriculture and sustainability.

Location: Building 44, Room P04

Commercial Kitchens

UDC Commercial Kitchens

The innovative, licensed, fully equipped food production facilities are available for daily, hourly, and monthly rentals, supporting sustainable food entrepreneurship and enhancing food security in the district. Centralized in wards 3 and 7, our facilities provide aspiring food service operators and small businesses with affordable access to professional-grade kitchens, management training, and resources to launch and sustain successful food-based businesses.

Key Features:

  • Professional-grade commercial kitchens for food production, preparation, and distribution
  • Reduced rental rate for entrepreneurs and small businesses
  • Kitchen management training through the UDC Food Safety Systems Program
  • Refrigeration and dry storage facilities for inventory management
  • Business incubation support to help food entrepreneurs succeed beyond their first year

Van Ness Campus: 4200 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008, Building 44, Room 110 (Tours Available: Feb. 19)

Lamond Riggs Campus: 5171 South Dakota Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017 (Schedule a Tour)

Staff inside of the Firebird Nutrition Assessment Lab with Bod Pod.

Firebird Nutrition Assessment Laboratory

This experiential learning space is where students achieve proficiency with assessing the nutritional status of individuals through a variety of manual and digital measurement tools. Moreover, this platform connects relationships between nutritional status and social determinants of health. 

Key Features:

  • Food intake-related history: Utilize web-based software to determine the nutrient composition of foods and beverages consumed.
  • Anthropometric: Procedures to measure and interpret body size (height, weight, and circumference dimensions) and body composition (ratio of fat vs. fat-free body mass).
  • Biomarkers: Tools that analyze vital signs and body fluids to determine any potential nutritional deficiencies or toxicities including blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, hydration, and other testing.
  • Nutrition-focused physical examination: Procedures that screen for nutrition-related gastrointestinal disorders, chewing/swallowing issues, and assess fluid balance, muscle strength, muscle wasting, fat loss, and micronutrient deficiencies.
  • Metabolic Testing: Using indirect calorimetry to determine resting metabolism, physical activity-induced changes, and energy (calorie) needs.
  • Simulated Models: AI-generated models of the human body for the practice of measuring vital signs, biomarkers, and placement of feeding tubes.

Location: Building 44, Room 309

Contact Us

The College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES)
4200 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
202-274-7124
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