The Board of Visitors Buildings and Grounds Committee unanimously approved changes to the 2025 Major Capital Plan Thursday, which will total $1.85 billion — down from $2.06 billion in 2024. This decrease comes from the deferral of 12 previously authorized capital projects which would have totaled an additional $329 million but were removed from the 2025 plan due to insufficient funding sources.
The Buildings and Grounds Committee oversees the care, maintenance and use of buildings and land at the University. They are responsible for the selection of architects and engineers, the naming of buildings and the furnishing and equipment of them.
Colette Sheehy, senior vice president for operations and state government relations, presented the Committee with changes made to the 2025 Major Capital Plan — a long-term plan which is reapproved by the Board annually and ensures that major construction, renovation or infrastructure projects align with the University’s priorities. According to Sheehy, since March the University has carefully considered whether to move forward with or pause certain projects, in light of recent terminations of federal funding.
“The first two quarters of the year have seen some real financial challenges, particularly as information and edicts have come down from Washington around federal research grants, etcetera,” Sheehy said. “So, the University is looking very carefully at all its discretionary expenditures, and that includes the capital program.”
Changes to the 2025 plan include the removal of three previously authorized projects and the deferral of 12 — also previously approved — projects which currently do not have sufficient funding sources. The three removed projects include a renovation of Pinn Hall’s second floor, a College at Wise athletic building and a College at Wise music education center.
According to Sheehy, the University has also proposed 11 new projects for Board approval, leading the 2025 Major Capital Plan to total around $1.85 billion in costs, after excluding the deferred projects. Among the new projects are additional planning and design for the Center for the Arts and the School of Data Science and Entrepreneurship Building.
Sheehy explained that although the Center for the Arts had been approved in March, an additional $2 million is needed due to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to veto state funding for the project. This delay means that the University needs the additional $2 million in funding to conduct additional planning of the building throughout the summer.
John L. Nau III, Committee chair and Board member, encouraged members to approve the construction of the Center for the Arts — although he noted that he initially thought the project was too large in scale, he said that he believes the project will serve performing arts across the region, not just at the University, and recognized the need for a building of its scale.
“To those on the Board that have questioned the scale, we're either going to have a performing arts center or we're not,” Nau said. “In order to do it, it needs to be at this scale for the region, not just the University.”
The Committee voted on two other action items — the University’s College at Wise requested approval from the Board to demolish the Center for Teaching Excellence building. According to Sheehy, the building was purchased in 1987 and has remained unused since the pandemic due to extensive damages. The Committee voted to approve the demolition but did not mention an intent to construct another building in its place.
The Board also approved a naming of the Scott C. Beardsley and Claire Dufournet L’Orangerie and Terrace at the Forum Hotel — located at North Grounds, a private dining space at the hotel.
As Sheehy plans to retire later this month, she thanked the Buildings and Grounds Committee for their collaboration on projects and close work with her throughout her 43 years at the University. The Committee also applauded Sheehy for her work and her contributions to the University’s capital development.
“I'm deeply proud of what we've accomplished together, and even more grateful for the relationships and shared commitment that made it all happen,” Sheehy said. “We are so lucky to have professionals who care deeply about U.Va. and give their best efforts every day to live up to the founders’ vision.”
The Buildings and Grounds Committee will reconvene Sept. 11 at the next meeting of the Board.
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