Downtown
Must-See RVA! — Virginia Department of Highways Building
A look into the history of Richmond places that are still part of our landscape.
AKA, State Highway Commission Building
1401 East Broad Street
Built, 1937
Architects, Carneal, Johnston & Wright
VDHR 127-0844
Calling this Stripped Classicism seems a bit risque for a public building, and Starved Classicism makes you think of an artist looking for work. Let’s go with WPA Modern instead.
(VDHR) — nomination photos
The Virginia State Highway Commission was established in 1906, with responsibility for construction and maintenance of the state highway system.3 The General Assembly designated a network of 4,002 miles in 1918. The counties were generally responsible for lesser roadways. In 1932, the General Assembly passed the Byrd Road Act, establishing the state secondary road system and allowing the counties to transfer responsibility for secondary roads to the Virginia Department of Highways (the agency’s name had changed in 1927). Thus, some 35,900 miles of mostly unsurfaced county roads became the new responsibility of VDH. The Department expanded accordingly, and in 1938 the Department had offices in the 7th and 8th floors, State Office Building (Washington Building); at 1204 E. Main Street; at 1108 E. Main Street, 12th floor; and at 1442 E. Main Street.
(VDHR) — nomination photos
By 1938 the Virginia Department of Highways was the largest of state agencies in personnel (300) and in expenditures. Commissioner Henry G. Shirley reported in 1936 that the agency had “entirely too many employees per square foot of room for their welfare and to do the work of the State efficiently.”
A new building was planned for the 1200 block of East Broad Street. Architects for the building were Carneal, Johnston & Wright of Richmond.’ The general contractors were Virginia Engineering Company of Newport News. In 1940, Commissioner Shirley reported that:
“Due to the necessity for more office space and to have the Highway local forces housed in one building, there was erected a main Highway Office Building, located on Broad Street between Twelfth and Fourteenth Streets, having a 228 foot frontage on Broad and a depth of 170 feet. The building was started in January 1939 and completed November 15, 1939. It has sufficient space to house the entire local force of the Department, thereby increasing its efficiency by having them all together in one building rather than scattered about the city at a number of points. The building was built in cooperation with the Public Works Administration who made a 45% free grant of its cost, for which the Highway Commission extends their sincere thanks; also for the complete cooperation of its local and other officials in approving all plans and expediting the construction, enabling the building to be occupied at an early date.”
November 2012
The Thirty-Third Report described the P.W.A. Central Highway Office Building Grant as $34,279.90. Other sources suggest that more money was also channeled through the P.W.A.
The building remains in service for its original purpose. It has been periodically upgraded, and it is connected by second-story pedestrian bridges to adjacent VDOT buildings, including the 1961 Annex Building and the rehabilitated Memorial Hospital. (VDHR)
Overall, a lovely building, and you’ve got to love those stern-looking eagles keeping watch over the place.
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