VCU Health breaks ground on $90M facility in Richmond

VCU Health has broken ground on a new $90 million medical facility in Richmond’s Diamond District that will expand access to the health system’s Pauley Heart Center.

Richmond leaders and health officials marked the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday. The 93,000-square-foot, two-story Pauley Heart Center Pavilion will sit on a 7-acre site on Sherwood Avenue, near VCU Health’s Brook Road Campus and the planned VCU Athletic Village, with nearby access to Interstates 64 and 95 and public transportation.

The health system said the facility is designed to increase clinical capacity, meet growing patient demand and reduce wait times for complex imaging and specialty consultations.

“At VCU, we are driven by a commitment to pursue innovation that addresses the most urgent societal challenges of our time,” Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao said in a statement. “The Pauley Heart Center Pavilion is a strong representation of that mission. By co-locating world-class research, clinical excellence and workforce training under one roof, we are creating a national model for heart health that prioritizes accessibility for all Virginians.”

The facility, scheduled to open in 2028, will feature MRI, CT and cardiovascular procedural facilities. It will also house noninvasive cardiology services, exam and consult rooms, infusion and recovery bays, a retail pharmacy, lab and research space and education and training classrooms. It will also include a cardiac rehabilitation center with Virginia’s first full-size cardiac rehab walking track.

“The new Pauley Heart Center Pavilion will not only expand access to critical care, but also bring together life-saving research, education and rehabilitation to make it a comprehensive and collaborative experience for better heart health for all Virginians,” said VCU Health CEO Marlon Levy in a statement.

According to VCU Health, the building has been designed with accessibility in mind. The site will include more than 450 surface-level parking spaces, allowing patients — especially those with limited mobility — to enter the facility quickly and easily. Many of Pauley’s existing medical education and training programs will also be housed in the pavilion.

Dr. Stephen L. Kates, interim dean of the VCU School of Medicine, said the facility will strengthen the school’s ability to train future physicians in comprehensive cardiac care and support ongoing research.

PSH+ Architects of Richmond designed the pavilion in collaboration with HKS Architects. Townes Site Engineering handled civil engineering, and Kjellstrom+Lee Construction is leading construction.

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report named VCU Health Pauley Heart Center the top heart hospital in Virginia for the fourth consecutive year.