3rd Floor Car Barn COURTYARD – Outdoor Space

Location:           Car Barn, 3rd Floor Courtyard

Hours:                 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.    Monday - Friday
                                    (not available weekends or University holidays)

Maximum Occupancy:  49 people

Online Calendar:    Please see the  basic availability calendar embedded at the bottom of this page.

The Car Barn 3rd Floor Courtyard space (outdoor courtyard accessible from the 3rd floor of the Car Barn, adjacent to the M Street elevator and stairwell area) is reservable space for use by faculty and staff, and University student organizations for University-sanctioned events. 

Please note:  for student organization use, a faculty or staff sponsor must make the reservation for the student organization and the faculty or staff person making the reservation must be present throughout the entire event to ensure that all usage policies and cleanup are followed. The faculty / staff person is the responsible person for that event. 

The Car Barn 3rd Floor Courtyard is available for use only from 7:30 a.m. until  8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday  (not available late evenings, weekends, or University holidays, and only as available during these times). Also, please note that this location is not available for private usage or rental to outside organizations or individuals.  This area is also bordered by classrooms with windows, so ALL FUNCTIONS must keep noise levels to a minimum at all times.

This area is a rectangular outdoor courtyard sunken into the 3rd floor of the Car Barn.  The 3rd Floor Courtyard has an area that is under an overhang, and it has lights for evening use. It can be used for small to medium (up to 49 people) gatherings and receptions by University organizations, and is most heavily used during the Spring / Summer / Fall.  Many staff and students also eat their lunch and study there. There are power outlets available, but no running water in this space (other than a hose outlet). The 3rd Floor Courtyard is fully handicap-accessible through the 3rd floor corridor (up a slight ramp). The Patio is lit by moderately bright street lamps that turn on automatically at dusk.

Rectangular and round mesh picnic tables have been added to 3rd Floor Courtyard, along with some existing outdoor chairs, couches, and tables. They can be re-arranged, as long as they are put back approximately as before.  Please note you may have to ask students to move from the area as you setup your event, and during the event. 

Users should put up a sign 1 day in advance of your event on the door to the 3rd Floor Courtyard informing any users that the area will be reserved for a private event (and give the date / time).   Contact GEMS - Georgetown Event Management group if you need additional information about table / chair rental, alcohol policies, alternate spaces, etc.

No tents or other structures are allowed to be erected on the 3rd Floor Courtyard due to the potential damage the tent poles can make on the pavers. In addition, 2/3 of the 3rd Floor Courtyard is exposed to rainfall and the elements.

Users of the Car Barn the Floor Courtyard should be aware that this is a sunken courtyard but surrounded by users on the 4th floor patio above, and that noise of frequent overhead airplanes can be heard.  In addition, it faces up against several classrooms and faculty offices, so noise levels should be maintained at a reasonable level at all times so as to not disturb classes or faculty.

If alcohol is served or provided during your event, University policies regarding age verification (id, wristbanding, etc.) and crowd control must be followed.  These differ depending on the size of your event. Please review the following link for additional information: https://studentaffairs.georgetown.edu/policies/student-organizations/serving-alcoholicbeverages.

There are some outdoor power outlets available scattered around the Courtyard perimeter on walls. The area is not wired for sound, and because of adjacent classrooms and offices, amplified sound should not be used. There is no running water or disposal available. There is no indoor kitchen or other indoor food prep areas available. 2 sets of restrooms and water fountains/bottle fillers are available immediately outside of the 3rd Floor Courtyard.

IMPORTANT:  A requirement of all users of the 3rd Floor Courtyard is that you MUST provide (or rent/purchase) disposable trash cans (check with GU Facilities, GEMS - Georgetown Event Management Services, or your caterer) and remove them at the end of the event  - OR -  you or your team or  caterer / vendor must haul away all disposable trash cans / trash bags at the end of the event.  This includes trash from all stationary metal mesh trash cans on the Courtyard. No trash can be left on the Courtyard.  Because this is an open area, birds, raccoons, and rats will tear open the bags and scatter trash if left overnight.

All users of the Car Barn 3rd Floor Courtyard must provide adequate trash cans and waste receptacles, and must thoroughly clean up after their function, placing any trash into receptacles, picking up loose items and trash, and wiping up any spills, dropped food, or other substances. Any chairs or tables that were moved out of position should be straightened up, and put back into approximately the original configuration. 

If chairs and tables were rented, they may be stacked up against the wall (but not blocking access to the doorway) for pickup the next business day (or as soon as possible). Failure to clean up or re-arrange the area after use will result in loss of future privileges. All events should be considerate of the academic and administrative activities that take place in the Car Barn, and especially of nearby neighbors. Amplified sound or music must be maintained at reasonable levels the entire time.

The closest restrooms to the 3rd Floor Courtyard are immediately inside the hallway (there are 2 sets, on either side of the M Street elevator). Other restrooms are located on the 2nd floor and 1st Floor.  Water fountains are located adjacent to the restrooms.

Please make sure that your users keep the space clean, dispose of trash properly as described above, and re-arrange the picnic tables, trash cans, and other patio items when finished — this will keep you in good standing for future reservations, and have this space available for the next users.

Cleanup

All users of the 3rd Floor Car Barn Courtyard must ensure that the following cleanup is done at the conclusion of their event:

• Place any trash and garbage into sealed trash bags and remove from the 3rd Floor Courtyard. This includes emptying the permanent trash cans and bagging the trash contents from those. Caterers, vendors, or organizers are responsible for removing All trash generated from their event at the conclusion of the event. All trash must be removed from the Courtyard at the end of the event and cannot be left overnight.

• If you've provided boxed lunches or other boxed items, the boxes must be folded flat and stacked next to the trash cans.

• Remove all rented tables / chairs and equipment at the conclusion of your event. Rented tables and chairs can be neatly stacked near (but not blocking) the door to the 3rd Floor Courtyard for pickup the next morning, if needed. 

• All furniture on the 3rd Floor Courtyard should be returned to their approximate locations if you have moved or regrouped them for your event. 

• Make sure the doorway out to the 3rd Floor Courtyard is closed tightly (it does not lock).

• Remove any posted signs or information from the 3rd Floor Courtyard, and remove any directional signs that you have posted outside the area.

• If you notice anything broken or damaged, or have encountered any problems, issues, or malfunctioning items on the 3rd Floor Courtyard, please report it to Rick Pike at piker@georgetown.edu .

Failure to cleanup or re-arrange the 3rd Floor Courtyard after use will result in loss of future privileges.

For more information about using the 3rd Floor Courtyard, please contact Rick Pike (piker@georgetown.edu) or Grad Dean staff at graddean@georgetown.edu. 

TO MAKE A RESERVATION FOR THE CAR BARN 3rd Floor COURTYARD

First, check the calendar below for possible availability.

Second, send an email to Rick Pike (piker@georgetown.edu) and let him know:

• proposed date(s) / time(s) of your event -- during peak seasons in the Spring and Fall, provide multiple dates;

• name of the event, department affiliated with it, and point of contact;

• approx. number of attendees;

• if food / alcohol be served;

Rick Pike and/or the Graduate School Deans' staff will then review and accept your invitation if we can approve the event reservation (if not, you will be contacted to reschedule).  If approved, it will be entered into the internal  3rd Floor Courtyard calendar (visible below) with your meeting title and name, and they will invite you to the meeting so that you can see the reservation in your personal GU Calendar.  If you decide you no longer need to use the space or if you need to reschedule it, please contact Rick (piker@georgetown.edu)  to change the reservation and make the original time/date available to others.