The International Student House of Washington, D.C., abbreviated as ISH-DC (pronounced /ɪʃ/ish), is a residence at 1825 R St. NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C., which houses primarily international students and young professionals studying or interning in the city.[3][4] It is run by a nonprofit organization, International Student House Inc.[5] It is home to up to 96 people at any given time and has more than 15,000 alumni.[6] The residence also hosts events for residents[7][8] and outside groups in its great hall, and serves breakfast and dinner to residents during weekdays.[9]
History
ISH-DC was established in 1936 by a group of Quakers as part of the international student house movement spearheaded by the missionary Waldo Stevenson.[10][11] They sought to promote intercultural exchange[12] and to aid international students of color unable to find housing due to racist housing norms prevalent in the city at the time.[10] The group was originally located at 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW,[13][14] but in 1946, it moved to its present location, a Tudor mansion built in 1912 for Henri Meserve.[10] In 1967, an additional residential building, Van Slyck Hall, was constructed adjacent to the main building, and in the 1980s, ISH-DC purchased a residential building, now named Marpat Hall, located behind the main building.[10] The main building and Marpat Hall are listed as contributing properties to the Dupont Circle Historic District.[15]
Demographics
At full capacity, ISH houses 96 people.[6] The house also has over 15,000 alumni.[6] Over the course of 2018, ISH hosted 194 residents from 48 countries.[16] Geographically, 38% of residents were from Europe, 28% from North America, 23% from Asia, 5% from Africa, 5% from South America, and 1% from Oceania.[16] Most ISH residents are in their 20s, with an average age of 27.[6]
Operations
ISH supplements its income by renting its common spaces to external groups for events.[1] In June 2020, ISH ended its food services contract with Sodexo and switched to a local Nordic restaurant, Mikko.[17]
^Simpson, Anne (27 Oct 1988). "A United Nations of College Students; International House Near Dupont Circle Caters to Foreigners". The Washington Post. ProQuest139403924.
