Student Commons and Wellness Building
As an important center for student life, a university’s student commons is among the top drivers for student recruitment and is often a prospective students’ first impression. A priority for VCU is a modern University Student Commons that provides a student experience that is uniquely VCU. Contemporary amenities, natural light and ample space support university priorities of inclusivity, wellness and collaboration. Students will find energetic space for activities, fellowship, community engagement, support services and learning outside of the classroom. The facility, located on the current Thalhimer Tennis Center site, allows for adjacencies to other student-centered facilities such as Cary Street Gym and Fields, Cabell Library, Shafer Court Dining, and undergraduate residence halls. A new iconic green will be anchored by the new Student Commons and Wellness Building to the south and Cabell Library to the north. The co-location of programs places wellness at the center of university life and communicates the priority placed on holistic well-being. The existing undersized University Student Commons will be demolished once construction of the new facility is complete. Thalhimer Tennis Center will be relocated.
Project Status: Pre-planning phase of study
Location: The northeastern corner of W. Cary Street and S. Linden Street at the current site of the Thalhimer Tennis Center
Where it is on the Six-Year Capital Plan: Second biennium (2026-2028)
Estimated Timeline: Depends on funding approval
Funding Source: University funds
Pre-planning Consultant: Ayers Saint Gross
It is important to note that undertaking a pre-planning study does not guarantee that a particular project will come to fruition. Issues such as funding availability or a shift in priorities can delay or even cancel a project from becoming a reality.
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