RICHMOND, VA – The Virginia General Assembly today celebrated the public opening of the General Assembly Building (GAB) with a ribbon cutting ceremony, plaque unveiling and public tours of the first purpose-built office building for America’s first and oldest legislative body that’s been serving the people of Virginia since 1619.

The new building, known as the GAB, features spacious meeting rooms, modern technology, inviting food services, and many other amenities and public spaces designed to make it easier for the public to visit and participate in the legislative process. Starting tomorrow, it will be open to the public from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mondays through Fridays and when the General Assembly is in session on weekends.

“This new GAB will enable constituents, visitors, and all interested parties to more easily observe and actively participate in the lawmaking process,” said Virginia House of Delegates Speaker C. Todd Gilbert. “This new building will better ensure that the people’s business is conducted in a much more timely, open, accessible and transparent manner. In fact, the GAB’s opening underscores the continuing resolve of all Virginia’s leaders to help facilitate more understanding of, learning about, and involvement in the conduct of sound public policy and sensible lawmaking.”

“It’s an exciting day for the commonwealth when we can come together to celebrate the opening of this much-anticipated building,” said Sen. Mamie E. Locke, Chair, Senate Rules Committee. “The GAB is a symbol not only of creative architecture, careful preservation, expert craftsmanship and steadfast project management, but of Virginia’s commitment to providing a modern, welcoming space for the public participate in the legislative process.”

“It is apt that we gather here on the GAB’s front steps, at the very heart of our Commonwealth’s civic life and ongoing experiment in representative self-government, to open the first purpose-built legislative building in over 400 years for the Virginia General Assembly,” said G. Paul Nardo, Clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates and Keeper of the Rolls of the Commonwealth. “It’s a towering accomplishment, but it’s also a fitting tribute and long-lasting testament to the patience, perseverance and alacrity of so very many.  We are thrilled to finally mark this major milestone.”

“This beautiful building you see before you is the culmination of years of planning, countless hours of meetings, and close collaboration between so many people for so many years. It’s truly a labor of love for many of us,” said Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar. “I’m thankful we are at a point where we can open the doors and share this with everyone.”

A time capsule that will be buried at the GAB at a later date was on display following the ceremony. More than 70 items – including legislative publications, popular pins, ornaments highlighting Capitol Square, photos, electronics used in the old building and materials associated with the House and Senate Page Programs for 13- and 14-year-old youth – will be placed in the time capsule.

Legislative offices moved out of the old General Assembly Building in 2017 for construction of the new building, overseen by the Department of General Services. Constructed on the same footprint as the former building with the same name, the GAB is 414,000 square feet with 14 stories above grade and one below. The Modern Classical design incorporates the existing original 1912 façade of one of the previous buildings that were combined to form the original legislative office building. That façade was stabilized in place during demolition and the new building rose around it. The lower four floors include various key public functions, including committee rooms, food services, a constituent center and other useful meeting facilities. It is connected via tunnels to the new parking deck at the corner of Broad and 9th Streets, which opened earlier this year, and to the Capitol’s underground Visitor’s Center. The tunnel from the GAB to the Capitol is expected to open ahead of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.

For more information, visit https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/.