At the intersection of advanced science and historic Richmond, the Molecular Medicine Research Building at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) rises as a new anchor for biomedical innovation.
Completed
2009
Size
120,000 sq. ft.
Services
Architecture
Designed in collaboration with Ballinger, Inc., the eight-story facility replaces the former Nursing Education Building along Broad Street, delivering 125,000 sq. ft. of high-performing laboratories, offices and learning environments within the urban core of VCU’s Medical College of Virginia campus.
The project required a sensitive design approach to harmonize with nearby architectural landmarks, including the Monumental Church, the First Baptist Church, the William Beers House, and the Egyptian Building. Our higher education team worked closely with the Historic Richmond Foundation, to help guide decisions about building massing, sightlines and pedestrian experiences.
The resulting architecture reinforces the lower-scale streetscape along Broad Street, easing the transition to the larger hospital complex beyond. Floor levels above grade align seamlessly with the adjacent 1996 Medical Sciences Building, fostering connectivity and operational efficiency across the medical research campus.
With its highly technical research environment and contextual design, the facility strengthens VCU’s capacity for groundbreaking medical discovery while honoring the character of its historic surroundings.
