RICHMOND, Va. — Officials unveiled a new office building for the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday, a project years in the making for America's oldest legislative body.
The building, named the General Assembly Building (GAB), has spacious meeting rooms, modern technology, food services and other amenities and public spaces that officials say will make it easier for people to visit and participate in the legislative process.
“This new building will better ensure that the people’s business is conducted in a much more timely, open, accessible and transparent manner," Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert wrote in a news release. "In fact, the GAB’s opening underscores the continuing resolve of all Virginia’s leaders to help facilitate more understanding of, learning about, and involvement in the conduct of sound public policy and sensible lawmaking.”
The unveiling marks the end of a years-long project that began in 2017 when legislative offices moved out of the old General Assembly Building to make way for the new building.
The GAB has a modern classical design and is 414,000 square feet, with 14 stories above grade and one below. A tunnel connecting the building to the Virginia State Capitol is expected to open ahead of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
Starting Thursday, the building will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, as well as when the General Assembly is in session on weekends.
To celebrate, the General Assembly had a ribbon-cutting ceremony, plaque unveiling and public tours on Wednesday. At a later date, a time capsule containing legislative publications, popular pins, ornaments highlighting Capitol Square, photos and other items will be buried at the GAB.
