VCU expansion

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is one of the fastest growing Universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, developing a strategic plan for the future known as VCU's "Quest for Distinction." The 2013 master plan lays out over 3 billion dollars in new construction and renovations that would provide housing for an additional 1,300 students, increase parking for several thousand cars and build 3 million additional square feet of academic and research space.^[1]

Currently Under Construction

• VCU Health System Children's Hospital of Richmond Pavilion and parking deck - A 160 million dollar investment located on east Broad Street between City Hall and Sanger Hall. The new construction will consolidate all of the childrenʼs facilities in the future.^[2][3] The new pavilion, which is expected to be complete in the summer of 2016, will house 72 clinical exam rooms organized for efficient multidisciplinary care; a surgical area with two operating rooms and two endoscopy procedure rooms; areas for diagnostic cardiology, imaging, neurodiagnostic treatment, outpatient lab services and pulmonary function testing; and shell space for future growth. The facility will be designed to create a family-friendly experience and will include a parking deck with 600 dedicated new spaces.^[4][5]
• Pauley Heart Center renovation - a $5.4 million Sanger Hall seventh-floor renovation for the Pauley Heart Center, to be completed September 2012.^[6]
• Grace Street Development - Overall, an estimated $83 million will be spent on a six block stretch of Grace Street, building two new student housing buildings, a 7-story office and classroom tower, a neighboring 11-story apartment tower, and a retail computer store.^[7]
• James Branch Cabell Library Expansion and Renovation - A 50.8 million dollar project consisting of an 82,000 square feet (7,600 m²) addition coupled with renovations of 80,000 square feet (7,400 m²). This is the first addition of library space since opening Cabell Library in 1970. The addition will provide group study rooms, a public auditorium, two new classrooms, a faculty and graduate student research and reading room and much more. This facility will be designed specifically to support and encourage student academic work and intellectual pursuit 24 hours a day.^[8]
• VCU Basketball Practice Facility - A 25 million dollar practice facility will be located on the north side of Marshall Street adjacent to the Siegel Center. It will house the Men's and Women's basketball teams. The building's size will be 60,000 square feet (5,600 m²) and should open in 15 months.^[9]

Future Construction

^{According to the 6 year Capital Plan as of 2013[10]}

2014-2016^[11]

VCU Siegel Center, Monroe Park campus

Monroe Park Campus

• Raleigh Building Renovation - The 8.4 million dollar renovation will take place once the new General Academic Building is constructed and will primarily be used for faculty offices of the Wilder School.
• STEM Research Building - A 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m²) building that will house STEM research and teaching labs. The building will be located on the site presently occupied by the Franklin Street Gym. The cost will be 72 million dollars.
• School of Education - A 50 million, 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m²) building that will consolidate the School of Education programs. The building will be located at the corner of Belvidere and Grace Street.
• Main St Parking Deck expansion - The 5.6 million project adds 258 parking spaces around the perimeter of the existing deck, and will offset the loss of surfaces lot spaces due to other projects.
• Student Health, Counseling & Wellness Center - At a cost of 20 million, this 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m²) project consolidates the student health, wellness, and counseling services into one building that is centrally located on the campus.

MCV Campus

• Sanger Hall Renovation Phase II - A $24.3 million project to help modernize the building to meet current research standards. This phase will fund the next four floors, or about 40,000 square feet (3,700 m²)
• Randolph Minor Renovation - A 5 million dollar renovation to allow the space to be used by the Massey Cancer Center and MCV Foundation.
• I-Lot Parking deck - A 25 million dollar, 1,250 space parking deck will allow consolidation of off campus parking into one location.
• New School of Allied Health Professions - A 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m²) building that will consolidate the 11 Allied Health Professions programs into one facility. The 60 million dollar building will be located on Leigh Street where the low rise dormitories are currently located.
• STEM-H1 Research Building - An 83.6 million dollar project and the first of two phases for a STEM-H building. This phase will be 126,000-square-foot (11,700 m²), including 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m²) of vivarium space. The building will be located on the BioTech superblock currently owned by the Virginia Biotechnology Park.
• STEM-H2 Research Building - Another 83.6 million dollar project and the second of two phases for a STEM-H building. This phase will be 126,000-square-foot (11,700 m²), including 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m²) of vivarium space. The building will be located on the BioTech superblock currently owned by the Virginia Biotechnology Park.
• West Hospital (School of Medicine) Phase I of III Renovations - This will be a 35 million dollar, Phase I renovation, and will include the exterior, and major mechanical, electrical, and plumbing of six floors.

2016-2018^[11]

Monroe Park Campus

• School of Engineering Vivarium - The first expansion will be at the NW corner of Cary St and Belvidere St where the current engineering parking lot exists. The 92,000 square feet (8,500 m²) building is estimated to cost 62.6 million.
• School of Business expansion/Executive Conference Center - The current masterplan calls for the Executive Center to be built on the block East of the current Business building. The new building will provide state-of-the-art facilities including classrooms, multimedia conferencing and teaching facilities, and faculty and administrative space. It will be connected to the present School of Business building with an overhead skyway. The 130,000 square feet (12,000 m²) building is estimated to cost 65 million.
• College of Humanities and Sciences - the old Franklin Street gym will be converted to the new home of the College of Humanities and Sciences. The cost will be 24 million dollars and will be 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m²)
• Life Sciences II - a 132,000-square-foot (12,300 m²) project at a cost of 32.5 million will have two pedestrian bridges connecting to the existing Trani Life Sciences Building and Temple Building. The building will be built at the current location of the Cary Street Tennis Courts. The new building will include wet labs, classrooms, faculty and administrative space.
• Student Commons Expansion - a 12.1 million dollar expansion. This project expands and renovates the Student Commons providing additional ballroom space to accommodate space for approximately 600-seated dinner guests and improved facilities for campus life. It is proposed that this project incorporate new and expanded space for the Career Center.

MCV Campus

• West Hospital Renovation - a 35 million dollar renovation
• MCV Campus Research Laboratory I (Cancer Research) - Redevelopment of Bear, Rudd, Warner and McRae Halls site provides new programming space for the MCV Campus to accomplish integrated Health Sciences Research. This request is for a 179,400-square-foot (16,670 m²), 4-story research facility to provide, state of-the science biomedical research labs and support space. The laboratory design will be flexible to support future research and to insure the extended life of the facility.
• School of Pharmacy Building - The new 65 million dollar building will be a modern replacement facility for the programs and activities of the School of Pharmacy on the University's MCV Campus.

2018-2020^[11]

Monroe Park Campus

• School of Engineering expansion - The second phase will be at the NE corner of Cary St and Belvidere St, south of the current Engineering East Hall. The 94,000 square feet (8,700 m²) building is estimated to cost 47 million.^[12]
• Academic Building 500 Block
• Academic Building 2 on the 500 Block
• Parking Garage 500 Block
• Theatre 500 Block - will provide seating for 300 people.
• Singleton Center Building Renovation - A planned 17 million dollar renovation to the performing arts building
• Oliver Hall Renovation - The 33.5 million dollar renovation will include renovation of the classrooms, auditorium and teaching labs with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and scientific equipment to compete in the current academic market. It also includes renovation the space vacated by the School of Education into Life Sciences labs and classrooms.
• Classroom Building - A 53 million dollar building will provide a total of approximately 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m²) gross square foot, four story structures to house general purpose classrooms, and faculty and administrative office space. This project is located adjacent to the Academic Learning Commons and the Cabell Library addition.
• Founders Hall Renovation - A planned 9.8 million dollar renovation to Founders Hall

MCV Campus

• Replacement of West Hospital - 113 million construction. The distinctive physical elements from the existing structure will be incorporated in to the construction of the new building. West Hospital has long been a landmark symbol for the MCV Campus. The new building should be a similarly distinguished landmark piece of architecture, marking the gateway presence and spirit of the MCV Campus on Broad Street.
• School of Dentistry Addition - the 12.5 million dollar addition will provide a new facility for patient care and clinical practice. This facility will be located on the McGuire Annex site adjacent to the present Woods memorial Building.
• Sanger Hall Renovations Phase III - A 19.7 million dollar renovation that is Phase 3 of 4.

Additional Future Plans

• The VCU Institute of Contemporary Art - VCUarts has chosen renowned architect, Steven Holl, to design the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA). The ICA will be a non-collecting institution. It will initiate programming and collaborate with other institutions around the world on traveling exhibitions and other events. The facility will enhance and expand the role of the arts on campus, serving as both an academic and extracurricular resource for students and faculty from every department. The mission of this establishment is to serve as an educational and cultural resource for both the University and the City. The building will cost 35 million dollars and is scheduled to open in 2016. It will be positioned as the new gateway to Richmond, at the corner of Broad and Belvidere street.^[13]
• Ginter House Renovation - A planned 10 million dollar renovation to the Ginter House.
• Monroe Park - a complete renovation to the historical Monroe Park which will make it a focal point on the Monroe Park Campus^[14]

New Dorm Construction/Upgrades

Proposed Master Site Plan includes an additional 1300 beds that would put the total amount of dorms to 6, 947.^[15]

• 500 N. Harrison - 426 students. This projects consists of two separate student housing buildings located on the 500 Academic Centre block. The building at the corner of Harrison and Grace Streets will have 250 and have a STEM living learning emphasis. The building at Broad and Ryland will have about 170 beds and have a leadership living learning emphasis.^[10][16]
• Rhoads Hall Renovation - A series of multi-year renovations that will upgrade the 1960s-era, 17-story residence hall to a modern, suite style dorm building at a cost of 9 million.
• Ackell Housing Expansion - 180 student expansion at a cost of 15.3 million. The units will be apartment style 2 and 4 bedroom to match the existing building layout.
• Cary/Adams (near Brand Center) - 200 students. This project provides the option of dedicated Greek housing on campus.
• Grace/Shafer High Rise - 650 students. This project includes the development of land on the corner of Grace and Laurel Streets to allow for new high-rise construction of a new living-learning community for approximately 650 undergraduate students; split approximately 390 beds freshmen, and 260 beds for upper class students.
• Grad/Professional at Cabaniss - 200 students - The Current Cabaniss for 1st year students would be turned into Grad housing and the current low rise on Cabaniss would be converted.

Future Athletic Facilities

The new Masterplan published in February 2013 calls for more than 70 million dollars to be invested in VCU Athletics infrastructure.^[12]

• Tennis Center - the state-of-the-art, modern Tennis center will include 6 indoor courts, a spectator viewing space, and 12 outdoor courts.^[17] The 25,000 square feet (2,300 m²) building is estimated to cost 14 million dollars.^[12]
• Athletic Indoor/Outdoor Fields - At a cost of 20.3 million, this project provides a multi-sport indoor practice facility, four outdoor practice fields, a baseball infield practice field, and parking.
• Siegel Center Upgrades - 30,000 square feet (2,800 m²) to be upgraded/renovated at a cost of 12 million dollars, including additional premium seating, snack bars, scoreboard, and merchandise sales.
• Baseball Locker Rooms/support - 10,000 square feet (930 m²) to be added to a future baseball park location

Recently Completed

Cary Street Recreational Facility, Monroe Park campus

Monroe Park Campus

• West Grace North Housing - The 33.7 million dollar residence hall will house 388 students and include a "living/learning" space for international education.^[18][19]
• General Academic building - a $44 million, 102,000-square-foot (9,500 m²) classroom building on Floyd Avenue across from the Student Commons that will house the School of Social Work and the Department of English^[20][21]
• School of Engineering Addition - a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m²) state-of-the-art collaborative research environment for a Health and Life Sciences Laboratory School^[22]
• VCU Brandcenter - renovation of the 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m²) Belting Building; new construction of the 8,000-square-foot (740 m²) Brandcenter^[22]
• Siegel Center Renovation - converted 16,000 square feet (1,500 m²) of space previously occupied by Recreational Sports
• Grace Street Parking - construction of two parking decks on West Grace Street just east of Belvidere Street. The five-level decks with a total of 750 parking spaces was completed in the summer of 2011 at a cost of $15 million.^[23]
• West Grace South Housing, Phase I - The new 459-bed residence hall and 218-space parking deck was built on the Grace Street property. The two projects, opened in fall 2012, cost $41 million^[24]
• Broad & Belvidere Dorm Expansion - The 70-bed addition to the university's 412-bed Broad and Belvidere Student Apartments opened in the fall of 2012.^[25]
• VCU Honors dorm renovation - The honors dorm was an old hospital and is now being renovated to meet the needs of a residential hall for students.^[26]
• RamBikes Stand - A $100,000 bike-maintenance and education building is being built at the corner of Grace and Belvidere street to repair and teach the nearly 14,000 student bikers on campus. The building will have an airing station, repair stations and covered bike racks.^[27]
• Cary Street Recreational Complex - a 126,000-square-foot (11,700 m²) renovation and expansion to the historic gym. The original building started its existence in the early 20th century as Richmond's Third Market. It later became the City Auditorium; the remains of the original painted name can still be seen on the building's sides. After a couple of decades of disrepair, VCU obtained the property and converted it into the Cary Street Gym in the 1980s. VCU Recreational Sports operated this facility as well as one in the Stuart C. Siegel Center, until 2007, when the Cary Street Gym was closed for renovation. The interior was gutted, re-roofed, and the exterior restored to reflect the building's historic design. A large addition was added on two sides of the historic building. The renovated building now contains an Aquatic Center with a leisure pool and activity pool, two floors of cardiovascular, strength and free weight equipment, 4 court hardwood gym, indoor turf Multi-Activity Center, 40-foot (12 m) climbing wall, exercise studios and locker facilities. The renovated building was awarded the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold certification.
• Snead Hall/ Engineering East Hall - part of the $228 million East Monroe park expansion and located on Belvedere and Main St, Snead Hall/Engineering East Hall is a 260,000 square feet (24,000 m²) facility which houses the School of Business and Phase II of the School of Engineering. The building opened January 14, 2008 and facilitates classes and offices since the Spring 2008 Semester and beyond. The building has its own dedicated parking (located on Jefferson St.), student commons, residence hall, café, and career center. Snead Hall (School of Business) encompasses 145,000 square feet (13,500 m²) of the building and the Engineering East Hall (School of Engineering) is an additional 115,000 square feet (10,700 m²) of the building.^[28][29]

MCV Campus

• New School of Medicine, Phase I - a 158.6 million dollar, 12 story medical building, encompassing 200,000 square feet (19,000 m²). The new VCU School of Medicine will replace the AD Williams Clinic^[30]
• Massey Cancer Center - An 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m²) building with 72 research labs and a two-level, 109-car parking deck at $41.8 million^[22]
• Massey Cancer Center Vivarium - a new $12 million, 10,000-square-foot vivarium with a projected completion of September 2012.^[6]
• Critical Care Hospital - Central Virginia's only level-one trauma center, the 15-story Critical Care Hospital specializes in intensive care^[22]
• Medical Sciences Building II - a 125,000 square feet (11,600 m²) research lab^[22]
• W. Baxter Perkinson, Jr Building - School of Dentistry. A 54,000 square feet (5,000 m²) addition to School of Dentistry on Leigh Street; housing research, clinic and teaching space^[22]
• New School of Nursing - an additional 70,000 square feet (6,500 m²) of research and training space to the VCU nursing program^[22]
• MCV Campus Recreation Center - a 31,000 square feet (2,900 m²) addition to the Recreation and Aquatic Center^[22]
• Larrick Student Center - renovated MCV campus dining court

References