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Office of the University Building Official

The Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities' Office of the University Building Official has primary responsibility for the proper management for, and enforcement of, the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC) to ensure that construction projects conducted on property owned by the university are completed in compliance with the code, related laws, and regulations.

The office serves as primary liaison with outside regulatory agencies on code issues that affect the design, construction, and approval to occupy new university facilities or maintain existing facilities.

The office was established in July 2010 after the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act of 2005 and the Management Agreement with the Commonwealth of Virginia granted the university the authority to designate its own building official.

The Board of Visitors approved a resolution to establish a University Building Official and Building Code Review Unit in June 2008, and the office was established in July 2010.

Formal delegation of building official authority was transferred from the Bureau of Capital Outlay Management to the new university building official in June 2011. 

EXPLORE

CONTACT

The University Building Official's office is comprised of three teams: plan review, inspection, and permitting.

Chris Kiel
University Building Official
ckiel@vt.edu
540-231-4678

Steven Smith
Building Code Plan Reviewer/Inspector
stsmith1@vt.edu
540-231-2662

John Bush
Architect
bushj@vt.edu
540-231-2933

Jack Thompson, Jr.
Building Code Plan Reviewer/Inspector
jlthomps@vt.edu
540-231-7638

Marie Castillo
Assistant Permit Technician
mdotson@vt.edu
540-231-2414

Christopher McGrath
Building Code Plan Reviewer/Inspector
cmcgrath@vt.edu
540-835-4821

Heather Snidow
Permit Technician/Administrative Coordinator
hsnidow@vt.edu
540-231-5534

CHRIS KIEL | UNIVERSITY BUILDING OFFICIAL