The Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital has a long-standing legacy of providing care to Richmond’s East End neighborhood. Originally founded by African American physicians in 1907 to serve the Black community during a time of segregation, the hospital has remained a pillar of health and hope in the area for over a century.
Over the years, it has grown from a local medical center into a dynamic hub that addresses the needs of its residents through innovative healthcare services, outreach programs, and initiatives aimed at reducing health disparities. As the hospital’s mission expanded and the area’s population and demand for care grew, the need for additional facilities became clear, prompting a vision for an interconnected campus that could better serve the community.

Operating room at Richmond Hospital in 1907 (Library of Congress American Memory)
That commitment now unfolds across the new interconnected Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital Campus. A testament to community-driven placemaking, the campus connects the Richmond Community Hospital, East End Behavioral Health Building, and Sarah Garland Jones Center for Healthy Living into a single, cohesive environment interwoven with shaded sidewalks, courtyards featuring locally inspired art, and ample parking. The cohesive campus transcends traditional healthcare models, weaving the area’s rich cultural fabric into its very design to foster a deeper connection between care and community.
The Campus
Explore the three buildings on the medical campus by clicking on the interactive map below.
At the heart of the Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital Campus design is Baskervill’s commitment to crafting an identity that reflects and resonates deeply with the community it serves. Understanding that a healthcare campus should reflect more than just functionality, the team infused the design with elements inspired by the East End’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant spirit.
“The goal was to make sure the campus reaches beyond practical purpose to act as an extension of the East End itself. We knew it had to be a place where people feel connected, valued, and at home,” explained Associate and Healthcare Design Director, Sarah Tetens, NCIDQ, CHID, EDAC. “We incorporated elements that reflect the neighborhood’s unique history and energy—think local art, inviting communal spaces, and a bold palette that echos vibrancy and resilience.”
One such personal touch is a custom mural featuring the iconic local historical figures who shaped Richmond’s first Black-founded and Black-owned hospital. The artwork, created by talented Richmond muralist Hamilton Glass, adds life to the space under a shaded pergola.

Mural along shaded pathway by Hamilton Glass
With the growing trend in modern healthcare favoring outpatient services, hospitals are becoming more transactional in response to patients’ expectation of increased convenience. The Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital Campus addresses this trend through multiple entry points and zoned parking to streamline access to specialized services. This shift is especially relevant for the Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital Campus, where visitors may be seeking targeted care—including emergency services—and need easy navigation across the site.
Recognizing this, the design team took great care in making sure the campus’s three core buildings were meaningfully connected and easily identifiable. With the possibility that visitors might need to access more than one building, it was crucial to create safe and seamless pathways throughout the campus. Shaded walkways, clear signage, and strategic parking areas remove the stress of getting from one facility to another.
“Connection has always been a throughline for this healthcare hub, so it was important we embedded meaning into the campus’ pathways,” said Sarah. “They were designed to provide easy and safe navigation, yes. But they’re also an extension of the healing environment. Whether you’re a patient, a guest, or a staff member, the journey from A to B offers a unique chance to find moments of pause. This approach helps to reinforce the sense of well-being that is central to Bon Secours’ mission, making the entire site a restorative space.”

The campus’ interconnected pathways
The Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital Campus is a carefully crafted journey. With cohesive pathways, thoughtful wayfinding, and art that celebrates the community, it blends functionality with purposeful placemaking. At Baskervill, we live for opportunities like these—using human-centric design to forge environments that are just as connected to the people they serve as the functions they perform. Because when design hits the mark, a more accessible, healthy future is one step closer for all.