IONIC DEZIGN STUDIOS: 2012 Top Ten Projects

We have been really blessed this year with lots of work when we know so many others have struggled to make ends meet.  First of all lets us thank our clients for supporting us here at IONIC and allowing us to do what we enjoy doing so much: DESIGNING!

Here are a few of our 2012 projects that we feel particularly proud of.  Some are completed while others are under construction and are listed in no particular order.  We would love to hear from you as to your favorite and why.

1. We start off with a Wendy's Ultra-Modern design located in Chesapeake Virginia. This design is a popular one with the company as it certainly provides a bit of flair to the old fashioned look previously. As a renovation project, there was much coordination required to accomplish the final look. Construction by Independence Construction.

2. We don't often do residential work but this one takes the cake. The Goshen Residence built originally in the late 1700s on the Ware River in Gloucester Virginia undergos significant renovation to save the structure and return it to its glory of the original era.  Many modern features have been added to insure that it maintains usefulness as a home but also that much care is taken to insure the integrity of the history.  Working with DHR, IONIC; the contractor DOVETAIL CONSTRUCTION and other consultants strive to rebuild this home now listed on the historic register.

3. Our first LEED Retail project Four Square Retail has found a lot of favor with the local community. We have heard that the city of Norfolk Virginia is quite proud to the the first in the area. It doesn't hurt to be fully occupied and generating revenue as well. IONIC is currently working on the paperwork for the official accreditation of the facility for a LEED Certified. We hope to have everything finalized by summer of 2013. Construction by Independence Construction.

4. Star Express Convenience Store located in New Kent County Virginia is currently under construction. The second store for this small growing corporation but first with a statement by IONIC. It is expected to be completed near the end of March 2013 and open to the public shortly there after. We feel that this store will lead to many more locations as growth and prosperity continues. Construction by Independence Construction.

5. Part of the economic development authority in Virginia Beach Virginia, Russo Law Office became possible due to their previous office taken over due to eminent domain. The new brick, glass and metal panel structure sits right near Town Center and offers multiple tenants as well as the law office. In December 2012, this project received the honor award from the City of Virginia Beach Planning Commission. Construction by JDandW.

6. The Wendy's Urban Design makes our list as well. We did several locations but our first was in Raleigh North Carolina.  We are fortunate to have the confidence of the corporate office to continue with their work into 2013 all over North Carolina as well as working with some franchise owners too. Construction by Quality Builders.

7. Towncenter Crossing became our second LEED Retail project this year located right in the middle of Virginia Beach Virginia re-developed from the old Fuddruckers Building. These photos were taken as we finalized some of the exterior lighting modifications. USAA and Bruegger's Bagels will be wrapping up their construction soon and we will be back out there to take some final shots. It is nice to work right across the street from your project! Construction by Independence Construction.

8. Under construction in South hill Virginia right off of US 85 is the new Five Guys. This free standing building took quite some time to get all the players in tune with one another but finally is has kicked into gear. Construction began late November with site work and the completion expects to be near April 2013.  Construction by Kenbridge Construction. We look forward to a burger or two.

9. This project has been a bit of a roller coaster this past year. Navy Federal Credit Union had some changes to the program that caused delay to construction in Chesapeake Virginia. Initially we designed a 9,000 sq ft, then added an additional 3,000 sq ft and now we are back to just 3500 square feet. we are hoping all is set to complete the final documents (again) by March 2013 and finish construction near the end of next year.

10. Rounding out the top ten is the Haywood Office Project located in Gloucester Virginia. This is the first of 3 buildings for the complex with construction current underway for the site.  Some final modifications are being made to allow the owner to get into the structure immediately while leasing continues for the office portion. We expect completion some time late summer of 2013. Construction by G.L. Wilson.

Again we want to thank all of those that supported us this year and wish many great successes in 2013. Let us know what you like!

www.ionicdezigns.com

Recycled Architecture

What in the world is recycled architecture? Have you ever drove down the road and saw an old building just sitting there vacant and barren? Unfortunately this has been happening more and more these days across the country from main street to the suburbs. Structures built in the prime for uses that are no longer appealing to the consumer or potential tenant to house their businesses. It might have been a restaurant at one time or even a retail store. Now it sits empty waiting for nature to slowly erode away at the structure and eventually leaving nothing else to do but scrape and rebuild.

This seems wasteful. Isn't there something else we could possibly do? Sure there is recycle the building. Over the last few years IONIC has been asked more and more to do "renovations" to existing structures. It is pretty common to but a new facade onto a fast food restaurant or update the entrance to a retail complex.  We have been involved in our fair share of those projects with great success. But that isn't what we are talking about when we mention RECYCLE.

We are talking about taking an existing structure intended for one use and re-purposing it for another. If it was a retail facility, it becomes a library.  If it was a day old bakery, it becomes a restaurant. In our economic fabric these days, as a consumer we want to go and use brand new facilities.  As a wise tenant, we demand better facilities to house our businesses. After all, an attractive facility often times relates to more business which means a stronger business and financially stronger. It is just what is expected.

Before Exterior

At IONIC we took an old shopping center near main street in Gloucester that was nearly 80% vacant and re purposed the structure with new uses. The vacant 22,000 square foot grocery store became the new county library. The 36,000 square foot vacate department store now houses multiple small offices and businesses within it's new interiors.

Before Interior

Recycled Interior

Recycled After



Before

IONIC's team of designers and architects worked with a group of contractors to transform a vacate day old bakery structure into the popular biker themed restaurant in Virginia Beach Knucklehead Roadhouse. Keeping most of the structure in place the interiors were massive transformations while the exterior was altered enough to accommodate the new use.  In this case by adding an exterior dining patio.

Recycled After



Before

Some times more of the structure is modified leaving little recognition of what remained previously. Currently near completion in the city of the busiest part of Virginia Beach lies Town Center Crossing. You remember the old Fuddrucker's restaurant? Yep they had some great hamburgers. Unfortunately every time I visited for lunch I was the one of only a few there. Now the site hosts 15,000 square feet of new retail and seeks becoming the first LEED Certified Retail project in Virginia Beach. Over 80% of the existing restaurant structure was maintained while there was an addition incorporated into the design as well.


Recycled After

One of the most necessary changes was the conversion of a former funeral home into a small office complex. The obvious need to change the perception of the former wooden structure to something that never reminded anyone that there once was a funeral parlor where your conference room now exists. We added the necessary expansion, dormers for natural lighting and a vertical circulation tower house the stairs and the elevator shaft. Even though the owner and builder didn't necessarily follow all of our recommendations, including colors, it was certainly a massive change  and recycled project.

Before

Before

Recycled Version.....not entirely what owner built

Should you find yourself needing some recycling of your existing facilities, please contact Ionic DeZign Studios for some ideas and concepts.  Real Estate Brokers, let us help your clients obtain new leases with a new re purposed facility. www.ionicdezigns.com

Four Square Construction Progress

We get to see some major progress out at the jobsite on Military Highway in Norfolk for the Four Square Retail Project.  The steel was delivered last week and now this week it has been erected and some of the wood framing has begun. We will see some quick progress now as the framing goes up and everyone can see the profile of the new building.

Matt Mazzoni (http://www.ionicdezigns.com/staff/Matthew_Mazzoni.pdf) from our office is coordinating all the work and documenting the construction to obtain our LEED Certification of the small retail.  Remember this is the first retail LEED in the area.....close behind is the Towncenter Crossing project in Virginia Beach. You can read about it here in an earlier post. http://ionicdezigns.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-mess.html

Everything seems to be on track as the general contractor, Independence Construction picks up the pace to meet the anticipated completion date this summer.  For all those tenants wanting to move in and occupy one of the new spaces, I am sorry but they are all filled! Good news....we can build another for you! Give us a call and we can make it happen.

Be sure to check out all the other news on our post and website at www.ionicdezigns.com

What a MESS!

Well first it takes a mess to start a renovation project but we are looking forward to seeing construction instead of deconstruction.  The Towncenter Crossing project is under way.....well at least some of the demo has begun.  The project consists of 6000 square feet of renovation of existing retail space (the Old Fuddruckers) and an additional 9000 square of new construction. The project is striving for LEED Certified, the first shell LEED Retail not only in towncenter of Virginia Beach but in the area.

It is racing with the 9000 square retail new construction that we started a month or so ago in Norfolk. This is all exciting as we...IONIC that is....push into providing some sustainable design projects for our clients. Some of the preliminary renderings and story is here: http://ionicdezigns.blogspot.com/2011/12/towncenter-leed-retail.html and a final rendering here http://ionicdezigns.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-construction-beginseverywhere.html with some other projects under construction currently.

But for now....we share the deconstruction.

New Construction Begins....EVERYWHERE

Just taking a short drive around the area we can see new construction sites for Ionic DeZigns taking shape.  It is exciting to see some of our hardwork over the last several months.....or longer, finally begin coming out of the ground.  Okay maybe some of them are just scraping the ground, but we still see movement. That is always good news. It means that our work finally goes from lines on a piece of paper to actual sticks and bricks! The great thing about all these new construction projects are the jobsite signs posted everywhere! Marketing Marketing Marketing!!!!! If you see our sign, give us a shout back! Here are a few images again of the projects that we are starting.

Four Square Retail Center - Seeking LEED Certified

Russo Office Complex & Russo Law Offices

Towncenter Crossing Retail - Seeking LEED Certified

Goshen Residence - Gloucester Virginia

Sadly our jobsite signs have come down from these locations but really that is good news because it means that the construction has been completed and the owners can move in!  We still need to get some good marketing pictures of these jobs but until then here are some of the last jobsite photos taken during the inspections.






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Marketcenter at Harbourview in Suffolk



St. Andrews United Methodist in Virginia Beach

We are waiting on a few more to get started as well and we will post them at that time.  Until then, enjoy my friends!