Richmond’s newest skyscraper, Gateway Plaza, celebrates grand opening on Sept.23

Gateway Plaza, downtown Richmond’s newest office tower, celebrates its grand opening Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 4:30 p.m., joining what already is a major party in Richmond with the international bike races with a party of its own.

U.S. Sen. Timothy Kaine heads a list of local and state officials who will be on hand to help dedicate the 18-story building. After the ceremony, tours will give people a chance to check out the dramatic aluminum and glass building that offers panoramic views of the James River and downtown Richmond from its location at 800 E. Canal St.

Another highlight is a dramatic lobby mural — a mosaic tile done by artists in Munich, Germany, that depicts rocks along the James River.  With the tower containing more than 135,000 square feet of glass, some of the building’s offices feature floor-to-ceiling tempered glass walls.

The newly completed building is home to anchor tenants McGuireWoods LLP and McGuire Woods Consulting LLC. The law firm and its consulting arm lease 205,000 square feet on eight floors.

“It’s light. It’s airy. It makes you have a better attitude,” says Robert J. Couture, executive director for McGuireWoods LLP.

Other tenants in the $120 million, 307,000-square-foot tower include TowneBank , which is building a branch on the ground floor and will lease additional office space on other floors for its regional headquarters. CCA Industries and local insurance firm BCG Cos. also have leased space.

The newest leasing announcement is for a  Potbelly Sandwich Works franchise, which has signed a lease for 2,568 square feet on the ground floor, according to Jim Ashby, a first vice president with Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer.  Local franchise owners, Jay Clark and David Duke, already have one location in the region at the Colonnades West Shopping Center in Henrico County.

“They gravitate towards heavy office products,” said Ashby of the chain that offers soups, salads, sandwiches and other luncheon fare.