By Danielle Pierce 

Leaders from VCU Health, Virginia Commonwealth University and Chesterfield County gathered today to celebrate a major milestone in the construction of the health system’s new Chesterfield Pavilion with a topping off ceremony marking the placement of the final beam on the facility’s structural frame. 

The Chesterfield Pavilion will be a four-story, approximately 100,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center and medical office building and will bring comprehensive, patient-centered outpatient care closer to residents in one of Virginia’s largest counties. 

Left to right: State Del. Michael Cherry, Chesterfield County Administrator Joseph P. Casey, Chesterfield Fire Chief Edward L. Senter Jr., VCU Health Board Member George Emerson, VCU Health CEO Marlon Levy, VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital President Sheldon Barr, Chair of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Mark Miller (Midlothian District), VCU President Michael Rao, Dale District Supervisor LeQuan M. Hylton. (Dean Hoffmeyer, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

“What we’re celebrating today is positive momentum toward positive health outcomes,” said Michael Rao, president of Virginia Commonwealth University. “The highest point of VCU Health’s new Chesterfield Pavilion serves as a metaphor for striving for our loftiest goals as a health system and coming together to make it a reality.” 

The state-of-the-art facility will bring together surgical services, diagnostics, infusion therapy, pharmacy, innovative care models, and more in a single convenient location for Chesterfield residents. Construction is on track for completion in 2027. 

Members of construction firm Hourigan prepare to raise the final beam for the Chesterfield Pavilion’s structural frame for the topping off ceremony. (Dean Hoffmeyer, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communication)

“We are thrilled with the progress on VCU Health’s new Chesterfield Pavilion,” said Marlon Levy, M.D., MBA, senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health. “With its convenient location in one of the most populated counties in Virginia, this state-of-the-art facility will propel us ever further in our commitment to make quality health care and unparalleled expertise more accessible to patients.” 

Sheldon Barr, MSN, MBA, president of VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital, embraces Shirley Gibson, VCU Health’s vice president of real estate, as they watch the beam raised to the top of the new building. (Dean Hoffmeyer, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Once open, the Chesterfield Pavilion will house an ambulatory surgery center with multiple operating and procedure rooms, expanded clinical space for specialties including orthopedics, gastrointestinal, oncology, gynecology, urology, breast surgery, comprehensive surgical oncology, and more than 45 exam and procedure rooms. Patients will also benefit from services such as mammography, infusion therapy and pharmacy services. 

“By bringing essential outpatient services together in one place, right here in Chesterfield, we reduce barriers to care, improve coordination among care teams, and create a more convenient and supportive experience for patients and their families,” said Sheldon Barr, MSN, MBA, president of VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital.  

Members of the project team, which included representatives from VCU Health, VCU, Chesterfield County, architecture firm PSH+ and managing construction firm Hourigan, signed the beam before its final placement on the structure. 

 Members of construction firm Hourigan marked an important milestone for VCU Health’s new Chesterfield Pavilion by raising the final beam on the facility’s structural frame. As tradition dictates, a tree and American flag are placed on the beam to bring the project luck.(Dean Hoffmeyer, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

“Today’s topping‑off ceremony marks an important step toward expanding access to exceptional health care for our residents. The progress on this facility reflects our community’s commitment to supporting advanced medical services close to home,” said Joseph P. Casey, Ph.D., Chesterfield County administrator. “VCU Health’s continued investment in this project brings leading expertise and innovative care that will benefit families across the county for decades to come.”

The topping off celebration follows the initial groundbreaking in May 2025 and signifies steady progress toward VCU Health’s expanded footprint in Chesterfield County, where nearly 400,000 residents will soon have enhanced access to world-class outpatient care and services. 

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