Key Points
- Indiana University has officially launched its Capital Campus in Washington, DC, creating a permanent hub in the US capital for academic programming, research collaboration and strategic partnerships.
- The campus is located at 1619 Massachusetts Ave. NW, near embassies, peer universities and major national institutions.
- The eight-storey building includes classrooms, meeting and event spaces, offices and on-site student housing for up to 40 students.
- IU says the campus will expand student opportunities through internships, coursework, immersive learning and alumni networking.
- Pamela Whitten, IU president, said the campus is intended to bring students, faculty and alumni closer to the institutions shaping national and international affairs.
- Don DeMaria was appointed executive director and began the role on 16 February 2026.
- IU says the building is expected to begin hosting academic programmes this summer.
Washington, DC (Evening Washington news) June 3, 2026 – Indiana University officially launched its Capital Campus on 18 February 2026, according to Kirk Johannesen of IU Today, with the university describing the move as a major step in widening student access, expanding research visibility and strengthening ties with policy and civic institutions in the US capital. As reported by Johannesen, IU said the campus aligns with its strategic plan to provide valuable experiences for students and advance research and innovation.
The campus is housed in an eight-storey building at 1619 Massachusetts Ave. NW, a location IU says places students and researchers near embassies, peer institutions and headquarters of national organisations.
The university has said the site will serve as a hub for academic programming, research collaboration and strategic partnerships, while also providing a central space for the IU community in Washington.
Why did IU create the campus?
As reported by Johannesen of IU Today, IU President Pamela Whitten said the new campus is designed to create “transformational opportunities” for students and a hub for faculty-led research and collaboration.
IU said the project was developed to give students direct access to real-world learning in Washington, while also creating a stronger institutional presence in a city where policy, government and international affairs are closely connected.
The university also said the facility will make Washington-based experiences more accessible for students across IU’s campuses.
In the March 2025 announcement, IU said the site would bring together and expand existing academic programmes and business operations in the capital, while reducing the cost and complexity of Washington placements for students who previously lacked dedicated housing or residential services.
What facilities does the building include?
IU said the Capital Campus includes offices, classrooms, meeting rooms and two floors of residential living space. According to the university, the housing can accommodate 40 students and is intended to help build a sense of community among those taking part in Washington-based programmes.
The building is also expected to host major speakers and events, giving IU a venue to showcase its scholarship and research to policymakers, business leaders and other Washington stakeholders. IU said the location near public transport should also help students and staff move easily between the campus and the wider city.
Who will lead the campus?
IU announced that Don DeMaria started as executive director on 16 February 2026, according to IU Today reporter Kirk Johannesen. IU said DeMaria brings Washington connections and experience in building university programmes in the capital.
Johannesen reported that DeMaria previously served as founding director of the University of Georgia’s Washington Semester Programme, launched in 2008, where he oversaw academic, career and student-life operations.
IU also said his background includes leadership roles in honours and learning-community programmes, and that one of his first priorities is to connect with faculty, staff, students and alumni across the university’s campuses.
Which programmes are already linked to it?
IU said the campus will build on several existing Washington-based initiatives rather than starting from zero.
These include the Washington, DC Accelerator Programme and the Washington Leadership Programme run by the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, as well as the Department of Political Science’s mentored internship programme in politics, leadership and social entrepreneurship.
The Hamilton Lugar School’s D.C. Global Leadership Forum, launched in 2024, was also highlighted by IU as a model for connecting students with government agencies, international organisations, think tanks and professionals in Washington.
IU said each campus will be encouraged to take part through programmes that may last from a few days to a full semester.
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Background of the development
IU said the Capital Campus was announced in March 2025 and has been in development since soon after Pamela Whitten became president in 2021. The university also said the property was purchased by the IU Foundation on behalf of IU, using a fund set aside for acquisitions that support its academic, research and public-service mission.
In the March 2025 announcement, IU said the Washington site would strengthen its national presence and broaden opportunities for students and researchers.
The university also said the project builds on a long history of IU programmes in Washington and is intended to centralise those efforts in one location.
Prediction for students and campuses
For students, the campus is likely to make Washington-based learning more structured, more visible and easier to access because accommodation and programme space are now combined in one place. That could help students from different IU campuses take part in internships, seminars and immersive learning without the cost and logistical barriers that previously limited participation.
For faculty and alumni, the development may increase collaboration opportunities in policy, research and networking, especially given the building’s location near national institutions and its planned role as a meeting point for the IU community. For the wider university, the main impact is likely to be a stronger presence in Washington that supports research visibility, student experience and institutional partnerships over time.
