Riverstone Properties consistently holds to their promise of making the James Center the premier office building in Richmond.

Many improvements have been made to the property since it’s purchase in 2017, including:

Atrium Renovation

The James Center Atrium Renovation project is now complete! The pink marble that covered the atrium has been completely removed in favor of modern finishes. A new 3-story glass feature wall stands prominently over the atrium, providing views into the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of Three James Center. New soft seating arrangements and planter boxes create a collaborative, energetic, yet relaxing environment for tenants and visitors. Every light fixture was overhauled and replaced with high-efficiency dimmable LED’s.

The scope of work included the following highlights:

  • Marble Wall Replaced with 3-Story Glass Feature Wall
  • Water Feature Replaced with Soft Seating
  • Brass Replaced with Glass/Stainless Steel
  • Lighting Upgrade to High-Efficiency LED Fixtures
  • Dark Wood Paneling Replaced with Artwork
  • Mezzanine Flooring Replacement
  • Parking Garage Elevator Modernization
  • New Security Desk
  • Upgraded HVAC System

One James Center Lobby Renovation and Conference Center

The One James Center lobby renovation is finished! The grand staircase connects the lobby and the second floor together for a cohesive look and feel. New lobby doors have been installed. The new lounge area is furnished with soft seating and collaborative work areas. James Center tenants have been enjoying this space as an informal gathering location outside of the office.

The new conference center on the 2nd floor was completed in October of 2018. There are two rooms available; the Pipeline Conference Room which comfortably seats 100, and the Hollywood Board Room which comfortably seats 14.

The Pipeline Conference room boasts a 16 ft. HD projector screen with additional TV’s for screen mirror presentation. The space is equipped with automatic blinds and dimmable lights for convenience. Tenants can place calls from the Crestron module on the wall, then the ceiling microphones allow for anyone in the room to speak at normal volume and be heard by the other party.

The Hollywood Board Room is equipped with a large HD TV and mounted camera for teleconferencing. Tenants can place calls using the Crestron module on the board room table.

There is a full catering kitchen in the conference center for tenant use. There is a Kegerator, ice maker, and 3 Large TV’s with cable (sports package included) for office parties & gatherings.

The renovations of the second-floor corridor, the Skybridge and the “mirrored hallway” are also complete. These thoroughfares that connect all three buildings have been transformed into spaces that are modern and inviting.

Elevator Modernization

The James Center is currently modernizing every elevator throughout the buildings with a new Otis Compass Destination Dispatch System.

The new system efficiently directs passengers to the elevator that can take them to their requested floor expeditiously.

The interior finishes are designed with bright and contemporary material; stainless steel, white GORILLA glass, and LED lighting.

Approximately 55% of the elevator modernization project has been completed.

Final completion is slated for the end of 2021!

Security Systems Enhancements
We have expanded and upgraded our CCTV video recording equipment with new technology to allow the system, access controls, and emergency intercoms to be controlled by a single software platform.

Also, all security cameras were replaced with 1080p HD cameras in 2020, a total of more than 55 cameras.

The following additional improvements to our security services have been made within the past year:

  • Control Room Renovation & Redesign
  • TekWave Contractor Sign-In System
  • Two-Way Radio System Signal Booster
  • New Security Desks in Lobbies and Atrium
  • Parking Garage Lighting Overhauled to LED Fixtures for Enhanced Visibility

New Restaurants and Retailers

Sesame Sushi and The Pit and The Peel are open! They join The Market, Trevi’s, and Starbucks in the Atrium.

Chopt Salad has also taken over the former Wendy’s space in One James Center. A patio has been added to the corner of 9th and Canal Streets for outdoor seating.

Additionally, Experimac is now open in the Atrium! They buy, sell, trade and repair Apple products. Everyone will benefit from this convenient location.

HVAC Upgrades & Building Automation System
The air handlers on every floor of each building were refurbished and modernized in 2019 & 2020 for improved air distribution. New VFD’s were also installed on each floor to greatly increase the energy efficiency of the systems and to improve temperature control.

James Center has installed a new Siemens building automation system for better control of tenant comfort, increased energy efficiency, and improved reliability. We have also rolled out a new after-hours HVAC portal for tenant scheduling (WebSmart Air).

Garage Lighting Upgrade
The existing lighting has been replaced with LED lights that provide a noticeably brighter indoor atmosphere. Motion sensors and dimmers provide better control through a software program, resulting in energy savings without compromising safety. The fixture replacement has been completed and will soon be commissioned with the software controls.

Improved Cell Service
We have partnered with Verizon who has installed a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) throughout James Center. The DAS has increased mobile coverage to Verizon customers working in or visiting the property’s interior spaces, including the parking deck. The interior of James Center has essentially become a cell site. This upgrade has increased coverage in the buildings and elevators and offloads capacity from Verizon’s external wireless network.

James Center has also partnered with Mobilitie to provide DAS coverage for any other carrier who wants to be in the complex.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi has been installed and provides a seamless internet connection in the first-floor lobbies of all buildings, the Atrium and common areas.

New Roofs
The roofs on Two James Center, Three James Center and the Atrium have been replaced with lightly colored reflective surfaces which reduce the roof surface temperature significantly.  Cooler surface temperatures reduce the workload placed on the HVAC systems, requiring less energy to operate. Insulation is being added to increase the thermal resistance, providing energy savings. The roof on One James Center was replaced in recent years.

Bicycle Parking Areas
A recently installed access card controlled bike storage cage is now available for tenant use. Three additional bicycle parking areas were installed throughout the parking garage.

Exterior façade cleaning and restoration 
This project was completed on all three buildings this past September. The buildings glisten under the sun!

Rooftop Lighting System
To enhance James Center’s prominence, we installed a three-tier LED lighting system at the top of Two James Center. The lights are programmed through software and provide a wide range of color options and patterns.

Energy Star Certification/Energy Saving Renovations
James Center is currently working towards earning an Energy Star certification for all three towers. We are refurbishing/replacing air handlers and controls throughout the entire complex, as well as upgrading lighting and electrical systems. Two new chillers were installed in early 2019, greatly reducing the energy load of the complex. With each property improvement, we are closer to becoming certified.