The Virginia Holocaust Museum recently completed a significant renovation, marking its most extensive update since the museum’s inception. The renovated space, located in a 1896 tobacco warehouse in the Shockoe Bottom district, enhances the museum’s ability to educate visitors on the history of the Holocaust.

The project, completed in 2024, focused on transforming the interior to create a more accessible and reflective environment. Features such as improved natural light, acoustics and a biophilic “ribbon ceiling” were added to enhance the museum experience. These updates aim to provide visitors with a space for learning and reflection on the Holocaust’s history and its contemporary implications.

Security upgrades include bulletproof glass and partitions, along with a system to alert police in case of emergency. The building’s original shutters were restored to meet Virginia Department of Historic Resources standards, and the renovation also improved accessibility with an updated entry ramp and additional parking.

A key addition to the museum is the USC Shoah Foundation Pepper’s Ghost Theater, which opened in October 2024. The theater uses holographic technology to present survivor stories in an interactive format. This is one of three such installations in the U.S.

The renovation was completed by Raymond, an architecture and engineering firm based in Glen Allen.