Richmond, VA — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) today announced the selection of Timothy Hill to serve as the Construction Administration Manager for the museum’s upcoming expansion and renovation project, which includes the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Wing II.
Hill will work closely with VMFA leadership, as well as SmithGroup, the contracted architectural design firm; Gilbane, the contracted construction management firm; and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of General Services Project Management Team, which is serving as the museum’s owner representative on this project. The approximately 173,000-square-foot new wing, along with 45,000 square feet of renovations to the existing building, make this the largest expansion project in the museum’s history.
“Tim will be a great asset to the team working on this major transformation of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,” said Alex Nyerges, VMFA’s Director and CEO. “His impressive leadership on similar construction projects will directly benefit the museum’s comprehensive expansion and renovation project.”
As the Construction Administration Manager, Hill will be responsible for the day-to-day onsite coordination of the construction of the new wing and renovations to existing spaces, including VMFA’s Leslie Cheek Theater. Since Hill is joining the team during the schematic design phase, he will be able to carry the project through design, construction and completion. Providing leadership and guidance throughout the construction process, Hill will work closely with Gilbane and SmithGroup, along with other contracted firms, and review plans to make recommendations for improving engineering details and construction practicality. He will also supervise project consulting specialists, facilities services and associated capital outlay.
“I am honored to serve VMFA in this new capacity,” said Hill. “The expansion and renovation project promises exciting and innovative opportunities for the museum to provide even more art and cultural experiences to the community. I look forward to working with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of General Services Project Management Team, Gilbane, SmithGroup and the museum’s staff in bringing this vision to life and making sure that the project opens on time and on budget.”
Hill worked on more than 30 previous projects at the museum. Since 2017, he has been a Field Project Manager at RMT Construction & Development Group, where he supervised a variety of projects, including building projects at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University and Medical College of Virginia Hospitals. In addition, Hill managed projects in Whitcomb, Fairfield, Gilpin and Jackson Ward for the Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority. He also worked on the first 3-D-printed house for Habitat for Humanity in Williamsburg and a second home in Richmond for the Virginia Housing Development Authority.
Hill honed his communications skills while working as a certified electrical equipment repair specialist in the United States Marine Corps where he trained local communities on security measures to increase military base security during his deployment to Djibouti, Africa.
“We value Tim’s unique ability to supervise the many important facets of complex construction projects like the building project VMFA is undertaking,” said Michael R. Taylor, VMFA’s Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education, and Project Director for the expansion and renovation project. “We are delighted to have him on board and look forward to working with him to realize the new Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.”
Visit www.VMFA.museum to learn more about VMFA’s expansion and renovation project.
About VMFA’s Expansion and Renovation
VMFA began its transformative expansion and renovation project, led by the international architecture and engineering firm SmithGroup, in June 2021. Tentatively scheduled for completion in 2027, the project consists of adding the new James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Wing II of more than 170,000 square feet and renovating 45,000 square feet of existing spaces, while maintaining four acres of green space in the E. Claiborne and Lora Robins Sculpture Garden.
The project will enable visitors to experience a seamless journey through the collections in VMFA’s new wing, which will house contemporary art, African art, American art, a new suite of galleries for rotating special exhibitions and a special-events space. The expansion and renovation will also enable the museum to display more art, welcome more visitors and provide more enjoyment. VMFA’s expansion and renovations will be informed by Virginians. Since kicking off the project, the museum has been actively engaging participants throughout the Commonwealth to better understand the visitor experience and learn more about the public’s vision for the future of the institution.
The design process will be complete, and final architectural renderings are anticipated, in winter 2023. The museum’s campus will then be prepared for construction, which is tentatively expected to begin in fall 2024. VMFA will remain open to visitors during construction. Learn more about VMFA’s expansion and renovation project and get project updates at www.VMFA.museum.
About the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia, is one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the United States. VMFA, which opened in 1936, is a state agency and privately endowed educational institution. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret art, and to encourage the study of the arts. Through the Office of Statewide Partnerships program, the museum offers curated exhibitions, arts-related audiovisual programs, symposia, lectures, conferences, and workshops by visual and performing artists. In addition to presenting a wide array of special exhibitions, the museum provides visitors with the opportunity to experience a global collection of art that spans more than 6,000 years. VMFA’s permanent holdings encompass nearly 50,000 artworks, including the largest public collection of Fabergé outside of Russia, the finest collection of Art Nouveau outside of Paris and one of the nation’s finest collections of American art. VMFA is also home to important collections of Chinese art, English silver, and French Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, British sporting and modern and contemporary art, as well as renowned South Asian, Himalayan and African art. In May 2010, VMFA opened the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Wing I after a transformative expansion, previously the largest in its history.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is the only art museum in the United States open 365 days a year with free general admission. For additional information, telephone 804.340.1400 or visit www.VMFA.museum.
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Media Contacts
Jan Hatchette | 804.204.2721 | jan.hatchette@VMFA.museum
Amy Peck | 804.773.1791| amy.peck@VMFA.museum
Kyla Coleman | 804.204.2702 |kyla.coleman@VMFA.museum
200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond, VA 23220