A firefighter and a Virginia Commonwealth University security guard suffered minor smoke inhalation, but there were no reports of other injuries in the blaze near the campus, a mile west of the state Capitol.
Fire officials believe the blaze started in the apartment house. A warehouse and several row houses also appeared to be destroyed.
Fire officials cordoned off a six-block area and asked a local television station to move its news helicopter because it was fanning the flames as it hovered.
The fire started shortly after 12:30 p.m. and spread quickly, said Fire Department spokesman Lt. Keith Vida. Wind gusting to nearly 20 mph blew burning debris onto other buildings, officials said.
Traffic was at a standstill, including on nearby Interstate 95, where debris had fallen. The blaze was declared under control after about three hours, fire officials said.
Vida said the cause has not been determined.
Police evacuated several buildings and about 50 nearby homes, going door to door asking people to leave in case the fire spread, Vida said. Among the buildings evacuated were the Virginia Commonwealth University bookstore and fine arts building, and a parking deck.
The apartment building would have housed more than 170 university students beginning in August. Officials of the urban university said the apartment project and planned retail development nearby was expected to cost $14 million, and the developer had spent up to $4 million on the project.
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