Richmond Academy of Medicine, 1200 East Clay St., built 1931-1932 as the headquarters for one of Virginia's oldest professional medical societies in Virginia, founded in 1821.

Virginia Commonwealth University should commit to the preservation and adaptive reuse of its historic buildings, including West Hospital, Tompkins-McCaw Library, Richmond Academy of Medicine, and the 400-block of West Broad Street.  But, VCU plans to demolish or diminish them all.  While these building are part of Richmond history, Richmonders can't protect them.  As a state agency, VCU is exempt from local control.

VCU’s historic buildings are irreplaceable assets that embody the university’s academic legacy, civic responsibility, and identity as a leading urban research institution. Preserving these buildings is fiscally responsible, environmentally sustainable, and academically beneficial. Rehabilitation reduces carbon emissions, leverages existing infrastructure, and can attract grants, tax credits, and philanthropic support.

Historic buildings directly support VCU’s mission:

Enrich student experience through human-scaled learning environments
Strengthen recruitment of students, faculty, and donors
Reinforce VCU’s reputation as a steward of public resources and urban heritage
Demonstrate leadership in sustainability and responsible campus planning

We therefore call on VCU to:

• Prioritize preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings in campus planning
• Require transparent evaluation of rehabilitation alternatives before any demolition
• Provide sustained funding for maintenance of historic assets
• Publicly affirm historic preservation as part of VCU’s mission and identity
• STOP ERASING RiCHMOND'S  HISTORIC LANDSCAPE!