University Renovations

University Renovations (UR) oversees facility construction and renovation projects on the Monroe Park and MCV campuses that cost up to $2 million per project. It is staffed by a group of construction professionals who develop the scope of the project, acquire cost and provide an approximate schedule for the client. Staff advertise the project as required by the commonwealth, award a contract, inspect work during construction, and ensure that the final project meets the client's needs and applicable codes.

To expedite the execution of projects, UR works with a VCU-established group of pre-qualified/term contractors to solicit bids for work. This group includes general contractors who perform multi-trade projects and specialty trades specializing in skills such as painting, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. The contracts are governed by a term agreement, which may include the General Conditions of the Construction Contract (CO-7) included in the Commonwealth of Virginia Construction and Professional Services Manual. 

UR utilizes standard Commonwealth of Virginia procurement methods, primarily competitive bidding. VCU policy encourages the use of small, women-owned and minority (SWaM) business enterprises to perform construction services.

Submit a project request

All project requests should be submitted via eBuilder. Upon receipt, a UR project manager will be assigned to the project and contact the client to begin the process of scoping and bidding the work.

For all projects, customers will be informed of the cost and anticipated timeline associated with the development of a project and will be required to approve costs before contracts are obtained. If the customer decides to proceed with the project, bidding charges will be included as part of construction cost.

Once UR completes a project, the client will receive a customer satisfaction form to submit feedback and help improve the quality of services.

Service financial information

UR is financially supported by the services it provides. As such, various fees exist to maintain its functions. These fee amounts have been established to break even and not provide profit. 

For projects totaling less than $250,000, a 13% general allocation fee will be charged. For projects totaling more than $250,000, an 8% fee will be charged. Additionally, for projects that progress and utilize resources to fully bid a project, a nominal fee appropriate to the effort expended will be charged.

The project schedule begins once a service request has been submitted. UR staff will then work with the client to develop the scope of the project, acquire cost information and provide an approximate schedule. 

The project manager will establish the construction value through bidding or negotiated contracts. Upon approval of the construction and other project costs, the total project funding, including the overhead rate, will be transferred from the client account to a Construction Management account. 

The overhead rate includes, but is not limited to, contract administration oversight, scope of work equipment selection, solicitation and review of bids, contractor submittals, final inspection, and commissioning, proposal review and invoice management. 

UR can also provide project management and inspection services. The rates for these services include direct salary and benefits costs of project managers and inspectors as well as allocated costs for supervision and departmental operating costs. These rates are applicable to state- and university-funded capital projects as well as all client-initiated planning and construction efforts, with the exception of small projects initiated through UR.