SummaryIt is well known that in experimental settings where v treatments are being tested in b blocks of size k, a group divisible design having parameters ~2=~1+1 and whose corresponding C-matrix has maximal trace is both E and MV-optimal among all possible competing designs. In this paper, we show that under certain conditions, the E and MVoptimal group divisible block designs mentioned in the previous sentence can be used to construct E and MV-optimal row-column designs to handle experimental situations in which heterogeneity is to be eliminated in two directions and where v treatments are being tested in b columns and k rows. Examples are given to illustrate how the results obtained can be applied.