IONIC tackles Financial Institutions

Over the last month our office has been blessed with rewards in our pursuit of financial institutions specifically credit unions. We have been working on several local flag ship projects for several months. One is getting ready to start construction shortly while the other has been submitted for permits. Both look to finish construction by the end of the year or the first quarter of 2017.

We have been fortunate to work with Chartway is assisting their expansion and new branding efforts as far away as Houston Texas and Warwick Rhode Island. Texas is under construction and Rhode Island kicks off next week. Other local locations are in the works to evaluate existing offices for their potential renovations.

Navy Federal Credit Union started it all off a few years ago when we were selected to help with their new branch location in Chesapeake. Since then we have done nearly a dozen locations for them including one in Jacksonville Florida. Recently we were awarded the new construction project in Bowie Maryland.

Any day now we expect the Beach Muncipal Credit Union to be awarded and it will begin construction in Virginia Beach near the courthouse area. Be on the look out for our construction sign soon.

We thank our clients for trusting IONIC and allowing us to serve. We look forward to the new construction breaking ground all over. Best of luck and much success to all.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

Ionic DeZign Studios

"Creating places and spaces to enrich the lives of those who use them."

www.ionicdezigns.com

NFCU Jobsite Progress

The new Navy Federal Credit Union construction marches forward in Chesapeake Virginia. We did a quick site visit last week between the snow falls to see how the contractor, HOY Construction was doing. All was looking great.

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com

Congratulations Are In Order

We want to congratulate our very own Matthew Mazzoni for recently passing the A.R.E. tests and becoming an official licensed architect. We all know how much work it takes to get through school, apprenticeship and then studying for the tests. It certainly isn't easy and so many fail to move forward with this important step. Matt is one of the leaders in our office and handles much of the Contract Administration duties for various projects. Currently he is overseeing the construction of the newest Navy Federal Credit Union being built in Chesapeake while wrapping up the exterior construction drawings for the new Chartway Federal Credit Union headquarters in Virginia Beach. Matt also has been working on the documents for the new 22,000 square foot Shore Christian Academy to be built in Exmore. We are all proud of Matt and look forward to his continued success with us here at IONIC.

Take a look at Matt's profile on our website and be sure to tell him congratulations!
http://www.ionicdezigns.com/contact.html
 

A Very Busy Week

This was just one of those weeks. It started out in North Carolina. Last Saturday I needed to drive down to Asheboro to do some field measurements for another on of the Wendy's. new franchise client for us. We (or should I say.....me) came to the rescue. Got there late Saturday night and then got up early for church and field measurements after. 

From there I headed over to Raleigh for the following Monday morning meeting. Raleigh has now become one of my favorite places. Especially downtown area. There is just something about it that has grasped my attention these days. I love all the places to hang out and eat. My favorite is the Flying Saucer. Look it up......I am now a member.

There is a little store front shop down there that I go past every time I am there. Vacant building, perfect for an IONIC South office......hmmmm. Maybe one of these days.

So Monday was an expedited review for the City if Raleigh on a Wendy's in Wake Forest. Successful approval.....and then ran over to the city of Cary to ask about some design review requirements. 

And then the long drive home. Man it was hot! 

The rest of the week was almost a huge blur. Two more Wendy's from another franchise on Tuesday. A proposal for a fourth Wendy's franchise in Roanoke. I didn't mention we received 3 more Wendy's from corporate on Sunday afternoon. The glory of email! A contractor asking to join forces in a design/build retail in North Carolina. Putting together a proposal for a forty room residence hall, another for 35,000 square foot of retail in Richmond. Kicked off Pre-bid meetings for two Navy Federal Credit Union projects. Had another meeting with conceptual ideas for another credit union........and pulled the permit for our own office expansion.

Turned in our competition entries for AIAHR on Monday, had meeting for urban design and expansion project on Tuesday. Completed revisions to that presentation and sent out on Thursday. Had a wonderful evening at Yardhouse to let off some IONIC steam......we all need a break from time to time. Wednesday was meetings all morning in the field and then back to the office for some design concepts. Thursday morning started off with a conference call with Wendy's corporate on a secret project we are involved in.....I love secrets! More late night work on a design proposal. Friday, present design concept which went real well.

I am sure I missed something in there.

Oh yeah, to help out with all the admin paperwork side of the business, we added another new team member for Contract Administor and Accounting. With all this work come great paperwork (said in the same vein as Peter Parker aka Spider-Man). Stay tuned for more on this announcement in August.

Work is good. And I just want to make sure that everyone knows how fantastic our team is that does all this work. There is no way possible that I could keep up if it was myself alone. Our whole office tackles all this head on and conquers it. They are the best. If you haven't had the chance to work with us, you need to give us a try. I think we would amaze you.

Our team includes a great group of consultants too. Civil engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers.....all of them putting up with the craziness that has been coming with this flood of new work.

We certainly have been blessed.

Where Art and Architecture come together.

Ionic DeZign Studios

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

Ionic DeZign Studios awarded another project with NFCU

Ionic DeZign Studios was awarded another small project with Navy Federal Credit Union. The small renovation project will take place at the existing Norfolk NAS location. The project begins immediately and expects to be released for bidding at then of August 2011.  Matthew Mazzoni, Assoc AIA with Ionic will be the project manager for the duration of the work. Jorvas Rodgers with IDS+E has been contracted to accommodate the Mechanical design required for the renovations.