The Office of the Deputy Governor has completed Phase 1 of the rehabilitation of the Old Administration Building on Main Street, Tortola.

The rehabilitation included the redevelopment of the Annex Building with a formal Handover Ceremony and Walkthrough to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development on June 4.

The front-facing façade of the Old Admin Building was restored in a process that spanned from September 2024 to January 2025. This was followed by the redevelopment of the Annex Building that began in October 2024 and was completed in March 2025, and saw the building’s doors and windows replaced to the meet the Miami Dade standard for hurricane resistance. Additionally, floor tilings, handrails and bathroom fixtures were replaced and new electrical fixtures installed to the appropriate standard. The exterior wall was also repaired and repainted.

Acting Governor, David D. Archer, Jr. shared remarks at the Handover Ceremony, highlighting the building’s historical value.

He said, “The walls of this building and continuing to the Annex represents hope, admiration and dedication.  One building at a time, one policy at a time and one book at a time, we are ensuring that the history of the Virgin Islands will never be forgotten. The completion of this phase is a pivotal step in safeguarding the history of this building.”

Premier Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley said, “The Old Administration building stands as the landmark of legacy. Its restoration is more than just a structural upgrade; it is preserving our cultural heritage. Where once a deteriorating structure stood, now a revitalised building uplifts the entire area.”

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development will use the Annex to store the National Archives, the Territory’s historical and cultural documents dating back to the 1700’s.

The project was managed by the Office of the Deputy Governor. Percell Construction completed the redevelopment of the Annex at a cost of $95,590.00, and the front-facing façade was completed by GND Construction at a cost of $74,800.00.

A full recording of the handover ceremony and walkthrough is available on the Government of the Virgin Islands’ Facebook page.

The next phase of the project is to be completed by December 2025 and will involve the replacement of the rails on the Annex Building, the replacement of the doors on the Old Admin Building, a Comprehensive Structural Assessment of the Old Admin Building, the cleaning of the interior of the Old Admin Building and the replacement of its roof and other critical Non-Structural elements, incorporating the recommendations from the Structural Assessment.

The Government of the Virgin Islands remains committed in preserving the Territory’s historical structures.