A bright, sunlit atrium will welcome visitors into the new Virginia MOCA, leading to two expanded gallery spaces. This space will serve as both our welcome area and a flexible hub for programs, events, and gathering. Right now, it’s full of possibility.

Construction is 95% complete!

As of December 2025, the following elements are complete:

• Second floor: complete and punch listed
• HVAC systems functional throughout
• Ceramic tile installation
• Plumbing fixture installation
• Brick veneer, precast concrete, and metal skin
• Zinc veil on front of the building
• Building-mounted signage installation and illumination
• Interior lighting installation
• Terrazzo floor treatment installation on first floor
• IT cabling throughout
• West lawn grading
• Perimeter plant installation

SITE

• West lawn has been graded and perimeter plants have been installed
• Sidewalk poured at rear of building
• Site lighting installation has begun
• Plaza concrete slab has been poured. Pavers to follow
• Entry sidewalk has been poured in parking lot
• Sitework continues at plaza/roadway and loading dock

BUILDING EXTERIOR

• Building exterior nearly complete. Brick veneer, precast concrete, and metal skin complete. Windows, glass, and doors nearly complete.
• Zinc veil 40% complete. All perforated panels are installed, and most of the west side is complete. Zinc panels are currently mill finish. It will take a few rain cycles for the patina process to be noticeable. The patina process is a two stage process. First requires water and oxygen and form zinc hydroxide, the second requires carbon dioxide and forms zinc carbonate.
• Entry vestibule remains
• Skylights will be delivered in late November

BUILDING INTERIOR

• Paint nearly complete in back-of-house and galleries
• Most interior lighting is installed and functional
• HVAC systems functional on second floor
• Ceramic tile installation complete on second floor. Plumbing fixture installation started on second floor
• Interior gypsum board nearly complete
• Interior doors, frames, and glass nearly complete
• Rubber floor and carpet installation complete on second floor
• Ceiling tile installation complete on second floor
• Countertop installation started on second floor
• Terrazzo installation started on first floor
• IT cabling ongoing
• Operable partition installation ongoing in lobby

We’re excited to share that the new Virginia MOCA at Virginia Wesleyan University is now 75% complete!

The building is nearing full “dry-in”, meaning the roof, windows, and doors are nearly sealed—keeping out the weather and allowing interior work to move forward. The recently completed precast concrete wall ties the building visually to the Goode building and finishes the rear façade, bringing more focus to the front plaza and lobby. Inside, lobby glass installation is nearly finished, and drywall work will soon begin, brightening the public spaces. The lobby partitions—key to making the space flexible for events—are also being installed.

Outside, the much-anticipated zinc panels have arrived and will soon form the building’s iconic face. Once installed, they’ll weather over time to a soft, natural finish. With exterior finishes wrapping up, hardscaping will begin in the coming weeks, followed by landscaping in October and November. Exciting progress is happening every day—thank you for joining us on this journey!

Virginia MOCA staff recently had the opportunity to tour our future home—and it was truly inspiring to see how far construction has come! With walls going up and spaces taking shape, the excitement is building for our April 2026 opening—less than a year away!

Here’s how construction has progressed since our August 2024 groundbreaking:

The exterior metal panels are about 70% complete, and work on the precast concrete walls is ongoing. The lobby and event space are now fully sheathed, and framing for the metal panels has begun, with insulation and weatherproofing to follow. Most of the rear windows are installed, with just the stairwell left to complete. Installation of the front glass curtainwall is expected to begin any day and will be finished by the end of July. The roofing is nearly complete and will wrap up within the next two weeks. Rooftop mechanical systems and the emergency generator are already in place, and temporary systems are running to manage temperature and humidity upstairs. Insulation and drywall work upstairs will be complete by the end of next week, and inspections are underway in the gallery spaces. Permanent electrical power will also be connected by mid-July.

On May 14, leaders from Virginia MOCA and Virginia Wesleyan University got a behind-the-scenes look at the new home of Virginia MOCA on the campus of VWU. Guided by our construction and design teams, trustees from both boards toured the site, walking through spaces that, soon enough, will be filled with art, learning, and connection.

Watch the video recap below:

Construction on the new Virginia MOCA at Virginia Wesleyan University is moving steadily forward. The steel framework is now complete over the gallery spaces and the second floor, and work on the lobby structure is nearly finished. On the exterior, crews are installing the brick veneer, with the building’s metal skin to follow. Inside, rough-ins for plumbing and mechanical systems—like rainwater piping and domestic water—are underway, and equipment is beginning to go into the main mechanical room. The metal framing for the interior walls is done on the second floor, and progress has begun on the first floor. The rear staircase is fully installed and usable, while work continues on the main staircase. Roofing is scheduled to begin within the next two weeks, and precast concrete elements are now being installed. Outside, a brand-new road leading directly to the Museum and the Susan S. Goode Fine & Performing Arts Center is open to the public.

The new Virginia MOCA at Virginia Wesleyan University is taking shape—literally! With walls going up and structural elements coming together, the building is truly starting to look like the museum we’ve been envisioning. In this photo, Virginia MOCA Executive Director Alison Byrne, architect Michael Schnekser of Tymoff+Moss, and Justus DiPeppe of Hourigan stand in one of our future gallery spaces.

The Avenue of the Arts, the new entrance leading to Virginia MOCA and the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, has been paved, with lighting and landscaping coming soon. Inside, concrete slabs are being poured, and many of the walls now in place will serve as both structure and design elements. Despite some cold and wet weather, construction of the building remains on track for a December 2025 completion, with opening scheduled for spring 2026.

The vision is becoming a reality.

Virginia MOCA’s new home at Virginia Wesleyan University is coming to life, and we’re excited to share a progress update! Since our groundbreaking in August, we’ve secured all necessary permits and cleared the site, which included removing trees and parking areas, setting up safety fencing, and preparing construction offices. The building pad has been laid, and excavations for the foundation have begun, readying the space for walls to start taking shape.

On Monday, August 19, Virginia MOCA and VWU held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center for their new state-of-the-art museum. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, bringing enhanced art, education, and engagement experiences to the region. Positioned in the heart of Hampton Roads, the new museum will open in early 2026 and promises to be a creative hub for the entire community. Stay tuned for more updates as we build this cornerstone of cultural enrichment.