Virginia Commonwealth University Plans School of Dentistry

Virginia Commonwealth University is planning to construct a new School of Dentistry to advance dental education and improve access to care throughout the state and beyond. Designed by Kahler Slater in collaboration with Hanbury, the 312,000-sf facility will collocate sophisticated teaching labs with environments for clinical instruction and specialized patient treatment in a landmark setting. The dynamic building will offer flexible spaces that promote interaction and create new synergies among a diverse user population, breaking down traditional departmental boundaries. Inspiring novel partnerships for research and innovation, the project will seamlessly connect dentistry with VCU Health and the other VCU Health Sciences programs.

As the only dental school in the Commonwealth, VCU’s School of Dentistry is a vital resource for oral health. The welcoming structure will accommodate more than 100,000 patient visits annually, significantly increasing clinical capacity and reinforcing the university’s role as the largest provider of dental care to Medicaid recipients in Virginia. Driving faculty and student recruitment, the state-of-the-art facility will support expanded enrollment to address an urgent need more qualified providers.

Affiliated Engineers is serving as MEP engineer, with Dunbar as structural engineer, TRC Companies as civil engineer, and Kimley-Horn as traffic engineer. Jensen Hughes is the building code consultant and life safety engineer. Other firms lending their expertise include Heintges Consulting Architects & Engineers, Sustainable Design Consulting, VDA, NV5, Pivotal Lighting Design, omloop, and Fall Line. Pixelflakes provided imagery and visualization services.

Dedicated to the highest level of education, training, and care, this world-class destination for dental excellence will also advance VCU’s sustainability objectives by incorporating features that enhance energy performance and reduce emissions. Construction is slated to begin in May 2027, with completion anticipated in late 2029.