VCU makes headway on renovating aging Franklin Street buildings
Scaffolding covers the side entrance of Founders Hall, one of many century-old buildings on Franklin Street undergoing or set to undergo renovations. Photo by Andrew Kerley.
Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor
VCU is making progress on renovating aging buildings on Franklin Street with new roofs, restored masonry and other fixes while preserving their historical characteristics. The efforts come after complaints from occupants about mold and other hazards.
Nearly half of all VCU buildings on the Monroe Park Campus are over 100 years old, according to data recently released in a board of visitors presentation.
Founders Hall, located to the left of the VCU sign on Shafer Street, has been under construction since 2023 and is finally set to be completed early next year, according to Finance & Administration communications director Molly Case.
Founders Hall, home to political science, sociology and some College of Humanities and Sciences employees, was built in the mid-1880s as a private residence, and later bought by Richmond Professional Institute — now VCU — in 1925.
Occupants have reported the potential presence of mold in the building, prompting an indoor air quality assessment, according to Case.
The fourth floor is currently blocked off. Multiple faculty members who work in the building recalled water dripping into their offices from the ceiling — something VCU is remedying with a roof replacement.
Also on the maintenance list is window repairs, as well as fire alarm and chiller replacements.
Before beginning construction, VCU contracted an environmental consulting service to conduct a comprehensive asbestos and lead-based paint inspection on the exterior and attic space of the building, according to Case. They found no health risk to occupants.
Founders Hall has remained open throughout the renovations. Facilities Management has not provided additional space to use during the renovation, though some faculty chose to move to the newly-built STEM Building.
VCU started similar construction in October on the Office of the Provost Building — formerly the Lewis Ginter House — located across Shafer Street from Founders Hall. It is set to be completed by 2027.
Scherer Hall, Kearney House and the Williams House have all undergone similar, smaller work to repair things like HVAC systems, uneven floors, roofs and other items.
Facilities Management is beginning to plan for projects to preserve the building envelopes of Bowe House, Kearney House and Crenshaw House — similar to what is being done to Founders Hall and the Provost Building. They expect to begin work in 2026.
Many of the projects are funded by maintenance reserve funds, which are provided by the state of Virginia, according to Case.
Alex Keena, an associate professor of political science, works out of his office on the second floor of Founders Hall. He noted that the conundrum of VCU buying up so much property in the Fan, most recently the building containing Ipanema Cafe, goes beyond shrinking the city’s tax base.
Now, VCU has too many properties to maintain, which can be straining under a tight budget, Keena said.
“So it’s kind of part of having the university in an old city, but it’s also the strategy of buying, buying, buying like a real estate investment firm, the chickens come home to roost,” Keena said.
