Facilities Management

Division of Finance and Administration

Office of the Provost Building

Office of the Provost Building Exterior Rehabilitation

The Office of the Provost, built from 1888-1891, was established as a private residence. It was later purchased by the city of Richmond and served as the city’s first public library from 1925 to 1930. Then, in 1930, Richmond Professional Institute (now VCU) purchased the property to use for administrative offices for more than 40 years. Today it contains the administrative offices for the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, vice provost for academic finance and administration, and vice provost for academic and faculty affairs as well as the Division of Community Engagement and the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success.

In 2022, VCU partnered with RRMM Architects to assess and determine how best to maintain and preserve the building, which identified the need to rehabilitate the building exterior. The building exterior and roof repair work will begin in May 2025 and consist of refurbishing the building exterior, including the historic brownstone and brick masonry, terracotta roof, and gutters.

During construction, a scaffolding fence (i.e., scrim) will be in place at the construction site to protect the workers, public and project site from the wind and other elements. 

The building remains open for business throughout the duration of the project. 

Project timeline: Work to begin in May 2025 and be completed by summer 2026

Location: 901 W. Franklin St. 

Primary consultants: RRMM Architects (architect) and Woodland Construction (general contractor).

Summary of work

Below is a summary of the work that will be completed as a part of the project. It is important to note that many of the projects will overlap and the timeline is subject to change. 

  • Repoint brownstone masonry, brick masonry and chimneys
  • Install new chimney caps
  • Replace full roof 
  • Repair and install parge coat
  • Replace deteriorated window wood
  • Paint exterior doors 
  • Paint window interiors and exteriors
  • Install fall protection
  • Restore existing roof maintenance access and platform
  • Replace underground drain pipe on the west side of the building 
  • Replace sidewalk on the west side of the building