DIY Construction

It is dangerous for someone who knows too much about construction......namely an architect......more namely me......to do anything in actual construction. Lol. Just a quick picture of some Saturday morning concrete frames made and getting ready to prepare the rebar and WWF. 

And yes I have done this before......in another lifetime ago during summer breaks in college I worked various construction industries. Installed roofing, buried telephone lines, laid sod, dug trenches and installed sewer lines, poured concrete and even ran a backhoe. Amazing isn't it?

Well you will have to stop by our office in a few weeks for our grand revealing of all our renovations and expansion. Be watching for the announcement going out next week!

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com

Where Art and Architecture Come Together

D, Eugene Thompson, AIA

Founder + President

IONIC Construction Begins

Okay so many of you that have actually built your own space may know a little about how we are feeling now. We began some of the destruction and construction this week for our new office expansion. It was a much needed addition to our office. right now work is just taking place next door in the newly acquired area. Not too much disruption. Every now and then we hear the occasional "Fire in the hole!" and then the gun goes off shooting another track in the floor.

In the next week or so we will begin moving people over to begin the shuffle of desks so that we can begin working on the existing side of the production area. Unfortunately, I don't think we will be completely finished with the new side. Maybe close. Carpet still on order, lighting just ordered, millwork ready to begin. I won't even talk about painting. The finishing details of our new space will take a bit of time.

I now am even more aware of how our clients feel when they live through construction. And I haven't even began speaking about budget!

No pictures......you will have to wait and see when it is all complete.

Www.ionicdezigns.com

Where Art and Architecture come together.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

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!

New Wendy's Renovation Prototype

Here it comes! The first two remodels in the country are happening right here in Tidewater Area.  Ionic DeZign Studios worked with the Wendy's design team and their design consultants Tesser out of San Francisco to develop the construction documents for the exciting new structures at Tiffany Lane in Virginia Beach and also on Warwick Avenue in Newport News. The renovations remove the front 10' of the building and replaces it with an iconic stone tower. A high end interior finish package along with the new "food forward" concept is being presented in these designs. The Newport News structure has been in place for over 40 years and has been added onto and taken away many times. The Virginia Beach location, just of off Princess Anne Blvd, will also include outdoor dining area. Watch for more news and updates as progress continues.  The construction should begin August 1 for Virginia Beach and is being built by Independence Construction of Virginia. Newport News will begin shortly after as the start dates need to be staggered.

Where's the Beef?!!!!

You probably remember this phrase from the TV commercials in the 80s. It was used in reference to some little old lady looking for the meat on the hamburger. Well we are using it today to ask where is the "meat" = construction documents? Over the last 6 months, our office has been cranking out conceptual renderings for clients in anticipation that there would be the MEAT or bulk of the work being construction documents.  Don't get me wrong, we like getting paid for creating ideas, but we like getting paid more for the construction documents.....and even more so, we like actually seeing the projects get built!

We have restaurants, coffee houses, retail facilities, medical facilities, houses, marinas, and so much more.....all of these are like the appetizer for our meal....fun, tasty and certainly gets us excited about what is to come.

Well, let me also say that the BEEF is on its way.  It has begun! Starting to get busy as we feared, wanted, begged for, etc.  Finished up Office building conversion, finished up new law office design, working on large office plan, two retail projects, Home-a-Rama house, a credit union, small church and here you go......you have been waiting for it......the punchline.....4 new Wendy's restaurant renovations. Yep, brand new prototypes that they are rolling out across the states and we are working on the initial conceptual design/documentation. Two in Virginia Beach, one in Newport News and the last in Chesapeake.

And there seems to be more behind that. Truly amazing. Truly fantastic.  Truly Scary.  What scary? Yep.  Well think about it.  About 18 months ago everything in our industry seemed to say we were on our way out.  I am sure many felt that we were going to be on of the many casualties of the recession.  Who could blame you right? Well here we are. Hanging on and growing. A full office staff to handle the marketing needs, the production needs and the Construction Administration needs. We are going after RFP, we are going after design/build we are getting old projects back to life.  We have hired a contract coordinator to handle the accounting affairs to make sure we are getting the invoices out, getting the checks in and keeping them all on budget. We also have 4 projects under construction with 2 more ready to begin.  That means staying up with the RFIs, submittals, special inspections etc. Oh yeah, don't forget keeping the production team up and running with state of the art technology and software........and we need more.....that's whats scary!

SCARY GOOD!

So friends....the ride begins....and here comes the BEEF!