Construction fencing rings Virginia Commonwealth University’s old Franklin Street Gymnasium that soon will be demolished. Opened initially in 1952 and expanded in 1970 in the 800 block of West Franklin Street, the former home of the university’s basketball team is no longer needed. The building will be replaced with a modern $121 million structure filled with labs and classrooms focused on boosting student learning in such fields as biology, chemistry, kinesiology, math, physics and psychology. The planned, six-story structure will provide a space where learning, research and collaboration can occur across disciplines.
