Messages to the Community

Dear students, staff, and faculty, 

I write to update the campus community on the initial stages of the University of Richmond Campus Plan (2025 URCP) process. The 2025 URCP will serve as the roadmap for the future physical development of our campus for the near and long term.    

Ayers Saint Gross (ASG), the architectural and space planning firm that is leading us in this important endeavor, has begun conducting listening sessions with campus constituent groups and will continue to do so over the coming weeks. So far, we have conducted 14 listening sessions composed of approximately 165 faculty, staff, and students, with an additional five listening sessions to be completed prior to spring break. These listening sessions are important as we work to gather perspectives about our campus and its support of our educational mission.    

To broaden participation to all members of the campus community, ASG representatives will be holding open sessions on campus at the following times:

Monday, March 25
5–6:45 p.m.: Heilman Dining Center
7–9 p.m.: Tyler Haynes Commons

Tuesday, March 26
10:15 a.m.–noon: Stern Quad
12:15–1:30 p.m.: University Forum  

On behalf of the URCP Steering Committee, I encourage you to stop by and share your feedback and ideas at one of these open table discussions — everyone is invited to participate! You are also welcome to send in your thoughts and suggestions via the URCP website.

Thank you for engaging in this process as we envision the future of our campus.

Sincerely, 

David Hale

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Dear students, staff, and faculty, 

As 2023 winds down, I am writing today to announce exciting news — the development of the 2025 University of Richmond Campus Plan (URCP). 

Rooted in our university’s educational mission, the 2025 URCP will be guided by our strategic plan and will serve as the roadmap for the future physical development of our campus over the near and long term. The physical environment and infrastructure on our extraordinary campus is critical to advancing our mission and supporting a vibrant community both now and in the future. 

The University has retained a leading architectural and planning firm — Ayers Saint Gross — to provide expertise in guiding this important planning effort. A steering committee of approximately 20 campus constituents, including University leadership, students, faculty, and staff, will work closely with Ayers Saint Gross beginning in January. Throughout the process, there will also be ample opportunities for meaningful engagement with students, faculty, staff, alumni, campus neighbors, and community partners to provide important input and ideas for the 2025 URCP. 

This news is exciting as we envision the future of our campus. The last campus plan, released in 2011, resulted in a variety of important changes and additions to our community, including the construction of the Queally Center for Admission and Career Services and the creation of the Eco-Corridor. The 2011 plan also resulted in the development of the south portion of campus near the River Road entrance and included rerouting a road to provide better campus access, building new student residences, and adding intramural fields. 

We expect the planning phase for the 2025 URCP to be a yearlong effort with recommendations executed over the next two to twenty years.

We look forward to providing updates along the way and sharing information about opportunities for engaging in this important process.

Sincerely,

David Hale

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer