Photo: The new five-story facility will enhance clinical practice and educational innovation, accommodating more than 100,000 patient visits annually. | Photo Credit (all): Kahler Slater and Hanbury
By Lindsey Coulter
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry: At a Glance
- Project: New School of Dentistry facility for Virginia Commonwealth University
- Size: 312,000 square feet, five stories
- Design Firms: Kahler Slater, Hanbury
- Purpose: Advance dental education, clinical care, and access across Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic
- Timeline: Construction to begin May 2027; completion by late 2029
- Location: VCU’s health sciences campus in Richmond, Va.
- Features: U-shaped layout, dental clinics, green spaces, student courtyard, community garden, café, and multipurpose classrooms
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Commonwealth University is set to break new ground in dental education with the design of a 312,000-square-foot School of Dentistry, created in collaboration with architecture firms Kahler Slater and Hanbury.
As the only dental school in Virginia, VCU plays a critical role in shaping oral healthcare across the commonwealth. The new five-story facility will enhance clinical practice and educational innovation, accommodating more than 100,000 patient visits annually. It also reinforces VCU’s role as the largest provider of dental care to Medicaid recipients in the state.
Located on the current Larrick Student Center site, the building will sit at the heart of VCU’s health sciences campus, linking academic, clinical and community services. Key features include a U-shaped layout integrating academic offices, clinics for predoctoral and graduate programs, and advanced educational labs. The design includes green spaces such as a student courtyard, a community garden and a main-floor café, open to the wider university. Five multipurpose classrooms will serve both academic and community uses.
“This new facility is more than just a building—it’s a landmark investment in the future of dental education, clinical training and patient care in Virginia,” said Lyndon F. Cooper, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean of the VCU School of Dentistry, in a statement.
The new building is designed to foster collaboration and break down traditional departmental boundaries, establishing a dynamic connection between clinical education, specialized patient care, and educational laboratories while offering flexible spaces that support interaction and seamlessly connect dentistry with VCU Health and the other VCU Health Sciences schools.
“We’re proud to be part of the team transforming dental education and access to care across the Mid-Atlantic,” said Larry Schnuck, FAIA, dental education designer at Kahler Slater, in a statement. “Kahler Slater and Hanbury’s design team is crafting a facility that will elevate VCU’s ability to provide excellent patient care, strengthen faculty and student recruitment, and expand enrollment.”
The design aims to create a welcoming and inspiring space that connects students, faculty and the community.
“The VCU dental school is a unique opportunity to bring together students, faculty, dentists, and citizens from across Virginia in a facility dedicated to the highest level of dental training, education, and care,” said David Keith, design principal and CEO of Hanbury. “We have thoughtfully designed a place that is both inviting and inspiring, connecting curious minds with skilled caregivers and serving a vital role in our community.”
The project represents a significant step in VCU’s mission to improve access to oral health care and train the next generation of providers. The new facility will support continued innovation in clinical care and learning, help meet workforce challenges and enhance the university’s ability to attract top talent.
“Because VCU is the only dental school in Virginia, it is important that our facilities support our faculty, students and staff so we can continue to meet the needs of communities across the commonwealth,” said Marlon Levy, M.D., senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health, in a statement.
The schematic design will be used to request construction funds in Virginia’s next biennial budget, which will be considered by the General Assembly in early 2026. Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2027, with completion anticipated by the end of 2029.