The City of Richmond has announced a series of updates to the visitor experience on the first floor of City Hall. The changes are part of an ongoing effort to improve accessibility and transparency between city government and the public.
Improvements include updated wayfinding signage, the reopening of the Marshall Street entrance, new service kiosks on the first floor, enhanced security measures, and the return of a staffed concierge desk.
Director of General Services Gail Johnson, who is overseeing these improvements, said, “City Hall is the people’s building. Richmonders should be able to walk through those doors and safely and conveniently find the services they’re looking for; our improvements are meant to ensure just that.”
Mayor Danny Avula added, “These changes are part one of a multi-step effort to realize a vision of City Hall that is more accessible and more valuable to the residents we serve. When I envision a thriving City Hall, I see a building teeming with the work of city government, where citizens can walk through the doors to find the resources they need, when they need them.”
One notable update is the installation of new weapons detectors at the 9th Street entrance. These next generation Evolv sensors offer improved detection capabilities compared to standard metal detectors. According to city officials, these detectors provide better screening precision while reducing wait times for visitors entering City Hall.
Visitors will also see new color-coded signage throughout the main floor designed to help them locate various services quickly. For example, green signs indicate tax and utility payments areas; orange marks assessments; blue identifies offices such as City Treasurer, Human Resources, and Public Utilities; pink points toward permits, inspections, and zoning services. A detailed map showing these zones will be available in English and Spanish at entrances and at the concierge desk starting early next month.
Another change includes having a full-time staff member stationed at the concierge desk inside the Marshall Street entrance during regular business hours. This bilingual staff member will assist visitors in locating needed services.
The city plans further enhancements later this year. These will include consolidating planning and permitting processes in person, adding more foreign language signage throughout City Hall, and incorporating public art into common spaces.
Residents are encouraged to share feedback about their experiences by emailing AskOSC@rva.gov.
