State approves funding for VCU to construct School of Dentistry building and acquire Altria Center for Research and Technology

By Brian McNeill

The 2027-29 state budget approved Monday by the General Assembly includes funding for Virginia Commonwealth University to acquire the 450,000-square-foot Altria Center for Research and Technology and to construct a new School of Dentistry building. Gov. Abigail Spanberger is expected to sign the budget imminently, ahead of the new fiscal year on July 1.

"We are profoundly grateful to the General Assembly and Governor Spanberger for their support and transformative investments in the Altria Center and a new facility for VCU's School of Dentistry," said VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. "These facilities represent a shared strategic commitment to advancing Virginia's health and innovation economy."

Rao continued, "Building on the 133-year legacy of our dental program, this modern infrastructure will allow VCU to strengthen our healthcare workforce while accelerating life-saving research and education across the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, our schools of Pharmacy and Public Health, and the larger university enterprise. By modernizing these spaces, we are ensuring that VCU remains at the forefront of discovery and care for the benefit of all Virginians, expanding further its role in advancing the strength of Virginia's economy and opportunity for its people."

The nine-story Altria Center for Research and Technology, located at 601 E. Jackson St., features state-of-the-art research space, including wet labs, as well as academic space for VCU's new School of Public Health and School of Pharmacy, which consistently ranks among the top 20 pharmacy schools in the United States.

The facility will also provide much-needed research space for the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center - space that is needed for Massey to remain competitive for maintaining its comprehensive designation from the National Cancer Institute, a status that unlocks federal funding, information-sharing and resources, and enables Massey to launch life-saving clinical trials and attract the best doctors and researchers to Virginia.

"Acquiring the Altria Center for Research and Technology is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for VCU," said Meredith Weiss, Ph.D., senior vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer. "It provides the specialized research infrastructure we need immediately to support the growth of the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, while creating a platform to accelerate health sciences research across the university for decades to come. This investment will attract exceptional research talent and funding to the commonwealth, accelerate discoveries that improve and save lives, and strengthen VCU's ability to educate and train the healthcare workforce needed to create a healthier Virginia."

The five-story, 312,000-square-foot School of Dentistry building will include classrooms, academic offices, cutting-edge academic laboratories, and clinics for predoctoral, dental hygiene and specialty dentistry programs, aligning with modern practices in dental education.

"I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who championed and supported a new dental building for the School of Dentistry. Because of your dedication and advocacy, this long-standing vision is now moving forward," said Jeff Johnson, D.M.D., Ed.D., interim dean of the VCU School of Dentistry. "This new state-of-the-art facility will enable increased student enrollment and advanced clinical learning environments, ensuring that we can provide exceptional care for our patients while preparing the next generation of dentists and dental hygienists to serve the commonwealth of Virginia."

The facility will be constructed on the current Larrick Student Center site, which is slated for demolition in spring 2027, positioning the building in close proximity to existing and future university and health system facilities on the health sciences campus, while also ensuring convenient access for patients and community members.

The School of Dentistry currently accommodates more than 100,000 patient visits each year from across the commonwealth, and it is the state's primary dental safety-net clinic, serving as the largest provider of dental care to Virginians insured by Medicaid. As the only dental school in Virginia, the School of Dentistry is also the only facility in the state that offers complete multidisciplinary dental care.