On February 8, Marymount University officially purchased The Rixey, a multi-million-dollar facility next to the university's newly constructed Ballston Center.

While the Rixey apartment building is a new addition to Marymount University's campus, the name "Rixey" is well-known within the Marymount community. 

In fact, the name dates back to the beginning of Marymount (originally Marymount Junior Women's College), in 1950, when it only had 13 students and its first building -- the Rixey Mansion. Also known as the "Main House," the Rixey Mansion has become the centerpiece of Marymount's campus on N. Glebe Road, and the campus has since grown out around it. 

Courtesy of Marymount University Instagram Page

Now, we've come full circle, with another Rixey building. 

Except, this Rixey, at 1008 N. Glebe Road, is not historic and does not possess Georgian architecture. It especially does not offer a good backstory.

Not like the Rixey Mansion.

The Rixey Mansion was built between 1919 and 1920 by Dr. Presley Rixey, who was a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral and who served as a personal physician to two of our U.S. presidents -- William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.  

Dr. Rixey, by our standards today, was renowned: he hosted events which even the widows of Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt attended. 

Now, the Rixey building, previously owned by Bozzuto, was given the name for the clear history and person that once walked these very streets decades ago. But the walls of the Rixey are modern and stylish. Having just opened in October 2017, it's a 15-floor high-rise which boasts 267 apartments (studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom with den, and two-bedroom units) -- not to mention its unbeatable location to Marymount's campus, the Ballston Metro, and even the newly re-opened Ballston Quarter.

With this latest acquisition, Marymount will deliver high-quality living to its students, staff, and faculty, as well as strengthen its presence in the Arlington County community.

What did you think of the new campus living? Tell us in the comments!

On our last edition of Arlington Up-Close, we explored the city's chocolate. Read more here!