Arts and Innovation Academic Building
Positioned on the southeast corner of Broad and Belvidere streets, across from the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU and steps away from Fortune 500 companies and local startups, a new Arts and Innovation Academic Building will provide a launch pad for critical digital and creative economy initiatives both on campus and in the city.
The new building will optimize VCU’s nationally prominent arts and innovation programs by bringing them together under one roof. The new AIAB will feature flexible classroom spaces, interdisciplinary performance venues and makerspaces for rapidly growing partnerships across arts, business, humanities and sciences, medicine and engineering. The activities in the building will range from opera to quantum computing; integrating the disciplines of engineering, cinema, theater, immersive media technology, gaming and the creation of new knowledge.
Gross square feet: 209,000 SF
Architectural/engineering (A/E): William Rawn (Boston, MA); Glavé & Holmes Architecture (Richmond, VA)
Contractor: Hourigan Construction Corp.
Timeline: Early site work is expected to begin in August 2023. Building construction to begin in December 2024 and will be substantially completed by March 2026.
Sustainability: Achieve LEED Silver certification or higher
Project managers: Terence McCormick (VCU Planning & Design); Jesús Najar (VCU Construction Management)
The project information will be updated as more information becomes available.
More information about AIAB can be found on the AIAB page and the media page of the ONE VCU Master Plan website.
Supplier diversity
Our commitment
VCU is committed to promoting equity in business and supporting a diverse local economy by fostering community and business relationships with small, women and minority-owned (SWaM) suppliers.
About the AIAB team
The construction of AIAB will be led by Hourigan Construction Corp. (the CM). If your business seeks to be a Tier 1 contractor (trade partner), we invite you to contact Hourigan about your interest in providing services on the AIAB project via this form: https://www.hourigan.
Prequalification process
The prequalification process will be managed by the CM. Hourigan requires all subcontractors to be prequalified in order to be eligible to contract work with their company and meet their standard insurance requirements. For more information visit https://www.hourigan.
Project trades and suppliers
The project trade list below highlights some, but not all, of the trades and suppliers required for the AIAB project. Please note that the list may be updated as additional trades are identified.
| Concrete | Flooring | Miscellaneous metals |
| Demolition | Furniture | Painting |
| Doors, frames and hardware | Insulation | Plumbing |
| Drywall and ceilings | General requirements | Roofing |
| Electrical (suppliers needed) | Glass/glazing | Sitework |
| Elevators | Hauling/trucking | Site cleanup |
| Excavation | Joint sealer | Specialities |
| Fencing | Landscaping | Structural steel |
| Fire protection | Masonry | Tile |
| Fireproofing | Mechanical | Waterproofing |
Procurement Services contact and more information
For more information about the procurement process, contact the CM or the VCU Office of Procurement Services.
CM: Hourigan Construction Corp.: Marquita Edmonds, marquita.edmonds@
VCU Procurement: Cornelius Hunt, chunt3@vcu.edu
Visit the VCU Office of Procurement website for more information about their services and supplier diversity.
Vendor support resources
Community engagement events
Please check back for upcoming SWaM community engagement events, bid meetings, and informational and technical meetings. These events will present project information and updates to ensure the construction community is informed of upcoming project deadlines and other important topics.
Assistance with proposal development
For assistance with proposal development, contact Travis Bowers, The Hyperion Group, at tbowers@thehyperiongroup.
Partnering advocacy organizations
VCU is actively partnering with the following government agencies, business groups and advocacy organizations to inform the community of bid opportunities:
Advocacy and government agencies
- Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity
- City of Richmond, Office of Minority Business Development
- Metropolitan Business League
- Carolina Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council
- Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce
- National Association of Women Business Owners
- The Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce