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VSU breaks ground on $120m academic building; largest building ever constructed on campus

April 25, 2022

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VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, VA — Virginia State University is pleased to announce a groundbreaking for what will be the largest building ever constructed on the VSU campus. The $120 million Academic Commons building will replace a demolished academic building and the campus gymnasium. As a strategic investment, the Academic Commons will consolidate the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Education into one complex.

Earlier this year the demolition of the former Harris Hall began after delays, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Academic Commons building will replace Harris Hall and Daniel Gymnasium. The new building be approximately 174,000 square feet and will be named Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons.

The Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons building will provide transformational academic experiences for the VSU community. It is conceived to be the hub of intellectual activity on the north side of campus, boasting three stories, 40+ high tech classrooms, 110+ faculty offices and other academic resources.

The new building will be state-of-the-art and include a swimming pool, gymnasium, theatre, and exhibition gallery. It will be a destination for interdisciplinary collaboration and group study, providing academic and support spaces outlined in previous space needs assessments. It will also enhance organizational efficiency and promote collaborative efforts. The building is expected to be complete in Summer 2024.

Read the official press release here.