Four Square Retail......here it comes!

The plans have been submitted for review and the construction is scheduled for the first week of January 2012. All of us here at IONIC are excited about our first LEED project beginning construction soon. From what we understand this will be the first LEED Retail project in the area. We are striving for just the Certified level but that should still be an impressive fact for other developers of similar small retail boxes.  This project is a mere 9000 square feet so if we can achieve LEED for this one, anyone can do it as well for their projects.

Once we receive our approval from the City of Norfolk the construction is planned for an early beginning in 2012 by Independence Construction of Virginia. The design team consists of Ionic DeZign Studios for Architecture and Interior Design, McPherson Design Group for structural, IDS+E and PM&E for mechanical engineering, 2D Innovations is our LEED Consultant helping out on the project. And Haskell & Folkes has been hired by the owner to perform the civil work.

If you are planning to do a new construction project and may have questions regarding making your project LEED Certified, please feel free to give us a call and we would be happy to discuss your options.  Swing by our office located near towncenter in Virginia Beach or Visit our website at www.ionicdezigns.com for more updates on new projects and profiles of a few past works.

"My house is my refuge, an emotional piece of architecture, not a cold piece of convenience." Luis Barragan

Russo Office Complex Begins Construction

We are excited to finally see the Russo Office project begin construction this month. The 10,000 square foot office facility located near Towncenter in Virginia Beach will house the attorney offices of Phillip Russo as well.  Our office developed not only the shell building structure that has a high level of sustainability design elements incorporated in the planning. The three entry towers represent "light houses" that when illuminated at night will glow through the frosted panels.  Inbed ground lighting glaze upwards along the side column pillars that encase the "light house".

The interiors of the Russo office plan offers a grand entry with lots of light and volume filtering into the waiting area.  The natural lighting will filter further back into the office from the tall windows with the assistance from the screening awnings positioned mid-span on the windows. Bright colors, diverse use of natural materials and creative use of space are welcomed into the interior office plan.  Again we used sustainable principles for the design by utilizing borrowed lighting and reclaimed lumber for portions of the interior finishes.

The design team consisted of Ionic DeZign Studios doing all the architecture, interior design and Sinclair, Pratt & Cameron participating for the structural side.  Martin Engineering is the civil consultant and the construction being performed by JD&W.  We welcome seeing the progress happen!

“Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.”

Lessons Learned

This week the opportunity was provided to me to attend the Architectural Exchange East in Richmond Virginia. Lots of education information was offered and a special introduction (at least on my part) to the keynote speaker Michelle Kaufmann. She presented an appealing selection of some of her work that represented the cause for sustainability and simplicity.  Her work was moving and motivational as she expressed, not only her design beliefs but belief in how we should think about our lives. A brief incite to her firm's struggles through the economic pitfalls that has beset us all was well appreciated.  Thanks Michelle for a great presentation."Sustainability isn't just about the way we build. It is a state of mind.

Good design embodies, inspires and nurtures that way of thinking and living."