Richmond officials have introduced a series of upgrades to improve the visitor experience on the first floor of City Hall.

The updates include new security screening equipment, the reopening of the Marshall Street entrance and the addition of a staffed concierge desk. City leaders say the changes are part of a larger effort to improve access and transparency between local government and the public.

“City Hall is the people’s building,” said Gail Johnson, the city’s director of General Services. “Richmonders should be able to walk through those doors and safely and conveniently find the services they’re looking for.”

Mayor Danny Avula said the upgrades are the first phase of a broader initiative to make City Hall more accessible and useful to residents.

“These changes are part one of a multi-step effort to realize a vision of City Hall that is more accessible and more valuable to the residents we serve,” Avula said.

“When I envision a thriving City Hall, I see a building teeming with the work of city government, where citizens can walk through the doors to find the resources they need when they need them.”

Visitors entering from the Ninth Street side now pass through new Evolv weapons detectors positioned just outside the building. The devices are designed to improve screening accuracy and reduce wait times compared to traditional metal detectors.

Inside the building, new signs use color-coded zones and icons to help direct visitors to different departments. Green signs mark areas for tax and utility payments. Orange indicates assessment services. Blue is used for the offices of the city treasurer, human resources and public utilities. Pink is designated for permits, inspections and zoning.

Printed maps outlining the updated layout will be available in English and Spanish at entry points and at the concierge desk.

The concierge station, located just inside the reopened Marshall Street entrance, is now staffed full time during regular business hours. The staff member is bilingual in English and Spanish and is available to help visitors locate services and offices.

Additional improvements are planned for later this year, including more multilingual signage, public art displays and a consolidation of in-person permitting and planning services.