Steven Holl Architects were approved last week by the board of visitors’ finance committee to design a $19.3 million gallery at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia.
An existing surface parking lot on the east side of VCU’s campus will be transformed into the 32,000 sqf arts institute. This will provide an opportunity to create a distinctive entrance into the campus from Broad and Belvidere streets. The program for the new gallery includes space for traveling exhibits and student exhibits, archival study area, offices, and an auditorium.
Over 60 firms responded to VCU’s request for proposals (the highest number for any VCU project), and nine firms were selected for the interview process before Steven Holl Architects were awarded the new art institute project.
Steven Holl Architects will first begin assisting with fundraising by designing a brochure, as the new building will be dependent solely on private funding, therefore an anticipated timeline for construction has not yet been determined.
Steven Holl Architects recently completed the Nanjing Sifang Art Museum in China, and are currently working on the design phase of the Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Princeton University.
For more information on Richmond’s existing modern architecture visit our Architecture City Guide: Richmond.
Source: Richmond Times Dispatch by Karin Kapsidelis as seen on ArchRecord
