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

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Team IONIC welcomes Bart McElfresh

Ionic DeZign Studios is excited to announce our new design team member Bart McElfresh. Bart joins us from a well established career participating in the design and development of many many church projects throughout Hampton Roads.

Previously with Barnes Design Group as an Assoicate, Bart was directly responsible for a sizeable number of projects handled from the initial client contact through long range master planning concepts,  preliminary/final building design, construction drawings and consultant coordination, negotiated (partnered) bidding and construction administration.
He  has been the lead Design Architect on more than 300 church projects which have varied in scope from small additions and renovations to the design of entirely new facilites, some of which approached or exceeded the 500,000 SF threshold. 

Notable buildings around the Hampton Roads area designed by Bart include  the Calvary Revival Church facility adjacent to Military Circle Mall, Christ The King Catholic School Cafeteria addition on Tidewater Drive in Norfolk, the New Life Deep Creek facility on Shell Road, Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Great Bridge, the initial River Oak Church facility off of 168 in Great Bridge, and most recently the Jolliff United Methodist Church expansion in Chesapeake. Other projects in Hampton Roads he has designed include Thomas & Thomas Dental Practice in the Great Bridge area of Chesapeake, VA, Plaza Azteca Restaurant adjacent to Chesapeake Square Mall and the Town Center IHOP site retail redevelopment in Virginia Beach. 

We are excited about him being involved in our new growth into the church market especially after our recent acquisition in Richmond of the newly rebranded WHHA + Ionic DeZign Studios. A valuable added asset to our team in helping establish IONIC not only as a local anchor for all church work but securing us as the "go-to-architect' on the east coast.

Welcome to the team Bart!

www.ionicdezigns.com

www.WHHAdezigns.com

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

You Got Your Peanut Butter on My Chocolate

Do you remember that old commercial.....okay maybe I'm certainly dating myself now. I don't remember how long ago that was advertised on television.

Regardless, if you haven't already heard.....IONIC and WHHA are now one firm. In seeking to grow and provide more and better services to our clients, Ionic DeZign Studios has come together .....like peanut butter and chocolate.....SWEET! with William Henry Harris & Assoc. Our office in Richmomd now supports our long endeavors to participate in more church relat d architecture.

Please take a look at our website.....it is still under construction.....but getting there, and check out some of our work. We will be adding some new projects soon that are under construction as well as just beginning construction documentation.

2016 looks to be a fantastic year....thank you for allowing us to serve you.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

President + Foumder

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com 

www.WHHAdezigns.com

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

Westhampton Baptist Church

Survival of an old historic 1914 gothic revival church in Richmond VA becomes the next great project that Team IONIC will be engaged in. Ionic Dezign Studios and WHHA will join forces to tackle this aging giant as it suffers from much neglect and imposing elements of nature as so many older structures do. Listed in Style magazine earlier this year as one of the nine most desired structures to save in Richmond has found its savior. St. Bridget School has purchased the structure with the intentions of converting it to a middle school. Richmond Times Dispatch

The Nine Most Endangered Places in Richmond

Currently the sanctuary has a collapsing roof that the previous owner just didn't have the funds to maintain and repair. The beautiful architecture will be preserved as the school intends on seeking historic tax credits. The original part of the structure was built in 1914 while the extension was added in the 1960s.

Our scope of work will be challenged with creating a new arrival entryway that complements the structure while inviting the students. The main entry as well as a drop off entry that will feed directly into the cafeteria for holding before classes begin. Smaller church classes will be enlarged by removing dividing walls to increase classroom capacity as well as bringing up all the mechanical services.

The cafeteria will get an overhaul while the sanctuary will be converted to a performance hall. The team hopes to maintain as much of the history of the structure while infusing some liveliness with color to inspire the new middle school residents. This is a great project that infuses school, church and historic preservation all in one. Schedule is aggressive but certainly manageable as the hopes are to have the project out to bid and permits before the end of the year.

Stay tuned for further updates.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

Ionic DeZign Studios + WHHA

www.ionicdezigns.com

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