James Monroe Building

{{Short description|Building in Richmond, Virginia, United States}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox building | name = James Monroe Building | status = | image = File:James Monroe Building VA.JPG | caption = View of the James Monroe building from the east. The right side of the large parking pedestal is where the second tower would have gone. | cancelled = | topped_out = | building_type = | architectural_style = | classification = | location = | address = 101 North 14th Street | construction_start_date = | construction_stop_date = | est_completion = | topped_out_date = | completion_date = 1981 | ren_cost = | client = | owner = | landlord = | affiliation = | height = {{convert|449|ft|abbr=on}} | architectural = | tip = | antenna_spire = | roof = | top_floor = | material = | size = | floor_count = 29 | floor_area = {{convert|349,999|sqft|abbr=on}} | elevator_count = 12 | grounds_area = | architect = Ballou, Justice & Upton Architects | architecture_firm = | developer = | engineer = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | main_contractor = | references = <ref>{{cite web|title=James Monroe Building|url=https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/james-monroe-building/9611|website=Skyscraper Center|publisher=CTBUH|accessdate=July 29, 2017}}</ref> | footnotes = }}

The '''James Monroe Building''' is an office building located in Downtown Richmond, Virginia. It is the tallest building in Richmond at {{convert|137|m|sp=us}} and 29 floors. Only 25 of the floors, however, are actually occupiable as the top and middle two are maintenance floors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/130649/james-monroe-building-richmond-va-usa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407165608/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/130649/james-monroe-building-richmond-va-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 7, 2015 |title=Emporis building ID 130649 |work=Emporis}}</ref> Although it is the tallest building in Richmond, its location at the bottom of a hill gives it the appearance of being roughly the same height as other buildings in the Richmond skyline. The building has a parking garage at its base and is located adjacent to Interstate 95.

Completed in 1981, the James Monroe Building was intended to have a twin tower at the North end of its parking garage but the recession of the early 1980s ended the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/bd_item.php?building_name=James%20Monroe%20Building|title=Richmond City Watch Building Database ::|publisher=|accessdate=April 13, 2017|archive-date=April 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414081719/http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/bd_item.php?building_name=James%20Monroe%20Building|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was the tallest building in Virginia from 1981 to 2007 when it was surpassed by The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center & Residences in Virginia Beach.

The state government plans to move all departments out of the building. As of 2023, whether or not a new building will be constructed to replace was still up in the air.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Ned |date=2023-11-03 |title=Virginia plans to move offices out of James Monroe Building in Richmond |url=https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/11/03/james-monroe-building-virginia |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref> This is due to building's age, requiring renovations that would be roughly equal in cost to new construction, issues with employees getting stuck in the elevator, and bathrooms that weren't compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kolenich |first=Eric |date=2025-07-18 |title=State agencies leaving Monroe Building will scatter across Richmond |url=https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/article_5e771f00-bf6c-4523-9607-c8ca49487749.html |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |language=en}}</ref>

As of early 2026, all government departments housed there have moved out or planned to do so, and the state government plans to build a new building for all the departments at 1401 East Broad Street and either sell or demolish the building. Former Governor Glenn Youngkin wanted to rent out office space instead, but lawmakers chose to build a new building due to a desire to invest in the city and centralize constituents' access to state government.<ref name=":0" />

Departments formerly housed at the building include the Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Department of Veterans Services, Department of Small Business Supplier Diversity, Virginia Department of Health pharmacy services, Department of the Treasury, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Auditor of Public Accounts, Office of the State Inspector General, Department of Accounts, Department of Taxation, Department of Human Resource Management, the Department of Transportation, Department of General Services' Information System Services, and the Human Resources clinic.<ref name=":0" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Office buildings completed in 1981 Category:Skyscrapers in Richmond, Virginia Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Virginia