VCU news

By Mike Porter

The Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors on Friday approved the ONE VCU master plan, a document that will guide the development of the Monroe Park and MCV campuses.

The plan — the product of 18 months of work and 176 interviews, presentations and public and stakeholder meetings — is organized around six guiding principles to support VCU’s Quest 2025: Together We Transform strategic plan and VCU Health’s Vision by Design strategic plan. 

“As the first master plan in VCU’s history to create a shared vision for both VCU and VCU Health System, the ONE VCU master plan identifies common goals and provides an evidence-based vision for VCU’s physical development,” said Meredith Weiss, vice president for administration. “Through a combination of targeted investments, renovations and enhancements, the master plan recommends exciting, innovative and collaborative new spaces that will continue to make VCU prominent nationally and connect us to each other and to the city of Richmond.”

Notable elements of the plan include a focus on how the physical environment impacts student success and patient experiences as well as an emphasis on improving mobility and safety on the Monroe Park and MCV campuses. The plan also calls for new iconic green spaces, the future creation of a student commons and wellness building on the Monroe Park Campus and the consolidation of adult outpatient clinics at VCU Health. The full plan can be viewed on the ONE VCU master plan website.

VCU’s master plan process began in September 2017. VCU worked with Ayers Saint Gross, an architectural, planning and design firm, to develop the plan.