City Council Approval!

Well, believe it or not we received approval from the Norfolk city council on Tuesday night for the acceptance of the new flagship Chartway Federal Credit Union. I say "BELIEVE IT OR NOT" because only a few weeks prior Norfolk planning commission voted unanimously against it 0-7. So why the switch to a near complete flip for a 6-1 in favor? I think it was a matter of misunderstandings not clearly explained.

It wasn't about the building going there.....accepted by zoning.

It wasn't about the design....everyone was in favor of the look IONIC created.

The only reason we had to go in front of council was because we needed a drive thru on the bank which requires a special exception. Nothing else should have been up for discussion. However that isn't exactly how the story went.

The planning department indicated to our design team which included Pennoni for civil engineering, that the planning commission had this huge thing about moving buildings up onto the street front. They expected that this was going to be the case. Especially since we were in the Transit Overlay District. (TOD)......Whooo wait a minute! We are not currently in a TOD zone. We are in a potential TOD zone due to the light rail station right across the street. One of the purposes, which I feel is a great idea by the planning department and the city of norfolk in most cases, is to promote more pedestrian friendly buildings and circulation around areas with public transportation hubs.

However, even though there is a lite rail station across the street, this isn't currently a very friendly pedestrian environment. Have you ever been on the intersection of Newtown Road and Kempsville? It's pretty crazy busy with cars....which is why Chartway liked the location for its most heavily vehicular traveled branch. The surrounding buildings look to be long term users and redevelopment of this interesection doesn't appear to be in the near future.

To move the building up on the street corner would have prevented internal circulation of cars wrapping around the building properly to enter the drive thru teller line. It just wouldn't work. It would make the project unfeasible. However that isn't what the planning commission understood. They clearly just wanted a building up on the corner regardless of the functionality effected. That really shouldn't have been open for discussion. Remember we were really only there to get a drive thru approved. Without the drive thru, we could build the building and place it pretty much where we wanted on the site.

The design team did listen to the planning commissions requests and desires to make this a pedestrian friendly corner taking the opportunity to embellish the corner with a pedestrian table. It was elevated and brick paved to the street corner allowing the easy flow of pedestrians to the front doorway of the branch. We felt it was a really good compromise with the future TOD plans. So did city council. Thankfully we move forward with our project instead of a convenience store.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

President + Founder

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com

Creating Places and Spaces that Enrich the Lives of Those Who Use Them

Congratulations to ELK HILL

 

Congratulations to Elk Hill on the successful completion of the biggest capital campaign in its 45-year history:  a total of $7,335,000 has been donated to the Elk Hill 20/20 campaign!

Elk Hill 20/20 focuses on endowment support and program expansion, enhancement and innovation.  It will define Elk Hill’s future for generations to come.  The campaign will help to reach more children and their families sooner to empower them to become stronger and healthier through its early intervention programs, including summer camps, and elementary school services.

WHHA  + Ionic DeZign Studios has served Elk Hill for more than 25 years by Master Planning the historic Goochland campus once owned by Thomas Jefferson, and designing 11 of the facility’s buildings, including the Scott Center, the Brown Dining Hall, and the W. E. Singleton Chapel. 

The Singleton Chapel has become a symbol of the spirit that has guided so many kids to the successful return to their families and their communities.  

William Henry Harris, WHHA  + Ionic DeZign Studios principal architect and longtime Board of Trustees member, says the firm is now looking forward to providing design services for the transformation of Ball Cottage into the new Elementary School envisioned as part of the campaign.

WHHA  + Ionic DeZign Studios is proud to be a part of the Elk Hill family and its expansion to five campuses throughout Central Virginia.

 

www.WHHAdezigns.com

www.ionicdezigns.com

 

 

Kiddie Academy Groundbreaking

February 1, 2016 we celebrated the groundbreaking at the new Kiddie Academy site in Virginia Beach. This was a social occasion for everyone not just our wonderful clients, David and Judy Martin. What wondeful people. They were so excited. They make my job so much fun. Of course they were ecstatic about all that surrounded this specific event as it was their very own "baby." Their first such venture. Wonderful friends and family showed up in support. I love that!

It was special for IONIC as well. We have done a gazillion buildings, but we don't often that we get to be involved in such an event as a groundbreaking. We were privileged to be asked to participate. It turned out to be a beautiful day after having to be postponed a few weeks when the snow storm attacked us here at the beach. It was nice for the weather to cooperate with us.

David Martin gave a few words about their project and welcomed the guests before introducing the participants. Eugene Thompson shared a few words about the first meeting with the Martins and thanked the entire team; it would not have been possible without them. Virginia Beach's Mayor Will Sessoms gave a few words and congratulated all for their success. Afterwards, a prayer of thanksgiving and then on to the ground breaking.

Jokingly, we were beyond breaking ground at that point as the background shows. We had the slab poured and the steel erected already. The beginning of the wood framing started to blossom that morning. The general contractor Mackenzie Construction, was taking full advantage of the kind weather and had made excellent progress.

We thank all those that were involved in the planning of the project to get us this far. We are all excited to see it unfold in the coming weeks and months towards completion. Stayed tuned for additional updates on our website, Facebook and Twitter!

Ionic DeZign Studios, Inc.

www.ionicdezigns.com

Where Art and Architecture Come Together.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

President + Founder