VCC Summer-Fall 2021

V irginia C apitol C onnections , S ummer /F all 2021 6 Burke’s Garden V I R G I N I A T A Z E W E L L C O U N T Y Visittazewellcounty.org Demolition began in 2017, as contractors braced the historic 1912 façade that was retained from the original classically designed Life Insurance Company of Virginia Building. The rest of the 14-story building rose up around that façade, with all 1,280 precast simulated limestone panels now in place. Window installation will be complete soon, as crews continue work on the interior buildout. Once complete in late 2022, the new GAB will feature a large, first-floor cafeteria, a second-floor gallery, and a beautiful two-story commons area where the public can gather between legislative meetings. Committee rooms on the upper floors offer scenic views of the Richmond skyline, and numerous efficient committee and subcommittee rooms will welcome visitors and legislators. The largest committee room will hold approximately 389 audience members, over 100 seats more than the largest committee room in the old GAB. The new GAB will provide a more functional, modern space for not only the legislators and staff who use the space for the important work of the Commonwealth, but also for the thousands of visitors who come each year to participate in the legislative process. The new building, which should open in time for the 2023 General Assembly session, will be connected by underground tunnels to the parking garage and, eventually, to the Capitol underground extension. The 500-car, seven-level parking deck will feature 25 electric charging stations, first-floor office space for legislative commissions and other offices, and parking for both legislative and executive branch employees. Digging begins soon for the tunnel to connect the new GAB to the Capitol. The approximately 600-foot tunnel will be constructed in two phases, with a pause for the 2022 Inauguration and legislative session. The tunnel is expected to be complete in late 2023. Once all these projects are complete, DGS plans to turn its attention to the Pocahontas Building east tower site in order to construct a new building for the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals. The General Assembly authorized and funded detailed design for this project earlier this year. So when you run into fencing or a closed sidewalk around Capitol Square, don’t be frustrated. Just know that good things are happening as DGS works to provide modern amenities for those who visit or work around Capitol Square while maintaining and protecting the historic attributes that make this place so special. Dena Potter is Director of Communications at Virginia Department of General Services. Get Ready for Historic Architectural Change from page 5 V