W.M. Jordan Company is in the process of expanding its Manchester office building into a block-long, campus-like complex that will stretch from Bainbridge Street to Hull Street along Commerce Road. The expansion will double the size of the company’s current building at Bainbridge and Commerce and make room for new employees.
“The project is as much about our company’s expanding commitment to Greater Richmond as it is about expanding our building and workforce,” says John Lawson, president of the 50-year-old firm which provides construction management, pre-construction services, design/build services and general contracting to a diverse clientele across Virginia.
 The outlook for continued growth of commercial development in the Richmond region prompted W.M. Jordan to consider expansion plans.
But where? In addition to the current site, what other options might be considered?
“We knew we needed more space to continue to grow our Richmond operation,” says Chuck McCarthy, W.M. Jordan’s Richmond division vice president. “We contacted the Greater Richmond Partnership to learn about alternative locations that we might want to investigate further. The process led us right back to our current location in Manchester because of the overwhelming advantages we have here. At that stage, we began working closely with Cary Brown in the city’s Economic Development Office to coordinate and access their services to help us move this project forward. We consider them an important part of our team.”
That’s a team that the City of Richmond is proud to be a member of. “We are excited to be here to assist W.M. Jordan in their expansion. The interest and investment in the Old Manchester community continues to soar”, states Cary Brown, Project Development Manager for the City of Richmond.
“Assistance to existing local businesses—and help in their growth and expansion—is a key mission of the Partnership, local economic development offices and the Greater Richmond Chamber,” says Sara Dunnigan, vice president, existing business services for the Partnership and coordinator of Business First – Greater Richmond, a joint initiative that works to accomplish this mission.
Speaking at a media conference announcing the launch of Business First – Greater Richmond, Garland Williams, the City of Richmond’s interim director of economic development, said “this is an incredible opportunity to court and make sure our existing businesses stay in Richmond. We’re talking about relationship building.”
W.M. Jordan’s new campus will enhance the growing corporate neighborhood at the south end of the Manchester Bridge and will include expanded parking, landscaping and green areas. The new building will incorporate environmental design principles to achieve LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The company’s construction professionals manage a wide variety of commercial and institutional projects in central and southeastern Virginia, with special emphasis on hospital and health care facilities, retirement lifestyle communities, and a wide range of educational buildings. The company maintains a healthy mix of competitively bid and negotiated projects. Many negotiated projects are design/build and fast-track construction. Current construction projects in the Richmond area include the VCU Health Systems Critical Care Hospital, the new library at Hampden-Sydney College and the expansion/renovation of Westminster-Canterbury Richmond.
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