New General Assembly building to open later in 2023
Free Press staff report | 6/22/2023, 6 p.m.
Anticipating a possible special session, the Virginia General Assembly announced it won’t be moving into its new building until later this year.
Plans were to move into the new building last fall, but supply chain issues threatened completion of the building in time to fully prepare for a successful 2023 legislative session. The body decided to remain in the Pocahontas Building through at least this spring.
However, required life safety equipment failed testing and one of the building’s stairwells did not meet building code require- ments. General Assembly members, their staff and House and Senate support staff will remain in the Pocahontas Building for now and move into the building later this year once all issues are resolved. The building opening will be announced to the public at a later date.
“Similar to last fall, we find ourselves faced with delivering to the General Assembly a building that is not fully operational, thoroughly tested and ready to conduct the important business of the body,” said Joe Damico, director of the Department of General Services. “While we could open the building by working around the issues we face, the General Assembly is making the prudent decision to delay until the facility is 100 percent ready to accommodate elected officials, employees and visitors.”
Mr. Damico said that the department remains committed to “working with our contractors to deliver a building worthy of the consequential work that will be conducted within its walls.”
