The Source for Richmond Architecture and Design Information

The Wrong Solution to the Right Problem: Articulated Buses

  The state of public transit in Richmond may not be strong, but we are more fortunate than many US cities of our size to be served by the Greater Richmond Transit Company, or GRTC. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, GRTC has outperformed many other systems, in part because of the “Zero Fare” policy instituted during …

“Dear Mazie” at the VCU ICA Spotlights Amaza Lee Meredith

Too few Richmonders know the name Amaza Lee Meredith (1895 – 1984). Thanks in part to an important and timely new show at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University, that may soon change. A pathbreaking architect and educator, Meredith is the first queer black woman known to practice as an architect in …

Modeling a Vision: Virginia Tech at the Branch Museum

The Department of Architecture at Virginia Tech is amongst the most well known in the country, but it isn’t as well known in Richmond as one might expect. Over the past month, an exhibition at the Branch Museum has helped to change that.  The latest in a series of ambitious shows staged by the museum, …

Current: First Unitarian Universalist Church Wins Award from AIA

Each year, the American Institute of Architects’ Virginia Chapter presents its Test of Time Award to a building between 25 and 50 years old that has served its tenants and the wider community admirably. This year’s winner is the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Richmond’s Carillon District designed by the notable late architect Ulrich Franzen.  …

William Chilton, a Designer of Dominion’s New Downtown HQ, Lectures in Tokyo

    Richmond-based energy giant Dominion is developing a new headquarters in Downtown, scheduled for completion in 2019. New Haven, Connecticut based Pickard Chilton Architects is designing the project, with Kendall/Heaton Associates of Houston as architect of record. On October 26th, William Chilton, a principal at Pickard Chilton, gave a lecture in Tokyo to the …

Opinion: “A Stadium in Shockoe Bottom? No.”

This article addresses the development proposal in Shockoe Bottom unveiled by Mayor Jones in November of last year, which has been headlined by a new baseball stadium. A counter opinion article from Don O’Keefe was posted last week. More information about the Shockoe Bottom plan can be found here:  So the mayor wants to build a baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom with …

Current: Northern Grade Market Showcases the Haxall Point Power Plant

Yesterday and Today (September 21st and 22nd), popular Richmond-based online retailer Need Supply Co. is hosting the Richmond iteration of a pop up men’s wear market known as Northern Grade. The event, which started in Minneapolis, focuses on high quality American made goods.  The event is taking place in the Haxall Point Power Plant, a spare …

Mixed Use Mid-Rise on Shafer and Grace Streets

                        August 2014 is expected to bring yet another mid-rise project to Grace Street in the Lower Fan District. The building currently on the site, a one story brick retail structure, will be demolished beginning as early as this month.  The 11 story, 170,000 …

Current: A New Building for McGuire Woods

McGuire Woods, a law firm headquartered in downtown Richmond with 19 offices worldwide, has recently announced a new Headquarters building is to be constructed. The building’s site is a full block south of cary between 8th and 9th streets. It will be somewhere from 15 to 20 stories tall. This block is currently occupied by …

Current: First Freedom Center

A major new development is headed for Richmond in the form of the First Freedom Center and Hotel. The building, which was approved by city council on Monday (the 23rd), will be built on the corner of 14th and Cary Street in Shockoe Slip. This site is now used as surface parking but it was …