City of Richmond Announces SmithGroupJJR as Project leader for the development of the Lumpkin’s Jail Site

At a special ceremony marking the kick-off of the development of the Lumpkin’s Jail Site, Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced the selection of a team led by SmithGroupJJR to be awarded the contract to develop the site. The City of Richmond signed a $1.4 million contract today to engage the team’s services.

“The team led by SmithGroupJJR has a depth of experience in museum organization and development, museum building design, archaeology, historic preservation, landscape architecture, exhibit design and community engagement…you name it, they’ve got it,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “SmithGroupJJR was recognized just a few weeks ago as an integral member of the design team of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which just opened in Washington, DC. Their accomplishments have been recognized both inside and outside of the United States.”

It was also announced today that Lonnie G. Bunch, III, will serve as a scholarly advisor to the Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Site project. Dr. Bunch is the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Lumpkin’s Jail was a slave-trading complex located in the Shockoe Bottom district of Richmond, Virginia. It operated from the 1830s until the end of the American Civil War. The initial Lumpkin’s Jail Archeological Assessment was completed in 2006. Following the discovery of artifacts, a second phase of excavation was undertaken in 2007 – 2008. The City of Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia have since funded advancing the Lumpkin’s Jail Site towards an interpretive and reflective site, the services for which SmithGroupJJR were contracted for today.

Hal Davis, SmithGroupJJR’s principal-in-charge, cited the Richmond project as an invaluable opportunity, something that can help all of us heal.

“We are humbled to be selected to explore and foster the definition of this significant and meaningful project,” Davis said.

Click here http://www.richmondgov.com/mayor/documents/LumpkinsJailPressPacket20161010.pdf for more about the SmithGroupJJR team.