Chartway Federal Credit Union

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Team IONIC is excited to see at least some of the construction beginning on the new renovated headquarters of Chartway. After developing multiple schemes that varied from extensive to minimal,mthe client elected to focus only at the entry way at this time. A floating glass canopy was engineered to minimize interruption with the work day activities by having much of the work prefabricated off site and set in place.

We were also very conscience about the interaction of existing structures to limited construction costs. We believe that once this grand entry feature is added to the facade, the owner will look to continue some further modications that included new sidewalk pavers, lighting and possible even a new fountain centered within the turn-about.

We look forward to seeing the pieces of the canopy being delivered and lifted in place soon. Be sure to watch for some updates and construction photos.

It is a team effort

Lead Architect: Matt Mazzoni

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com

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

Eugene Thompson

Wicked Taco

Finally wrapped up the design for a new restaurant in Raleigh NC. We anticipated being provided much of the conceptual design by another designer but fortunately for TEAM IONIC we were afforded the opportunity to develop much of the designs both inside and out. The project consisted of renovating an existing vacate Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant of about 3000 square feet. It was a complete gut of the front interior dining area as well as laying out and reutilizing much of the same kitchen plan to minimize costs.

Once we developed the interior seating plan, it was decided that more interior seating would be necessary. With restrictions from easement requirements from overhead power lines and existing drive thru lanes, IONIC was able to incorporate a ten foot addition on the front which allowed to create a new branding image and entry.

The front facade is clad in several rustic type materials including reclaimed tobacco farm barn wood, galvanized coorigated metal and some ledger stone around a few accent columns. The new added dining area opens up to the outside with operating overhead doors allowing extended outdoor dining and fresh air. Both the stone and the metal come down into the interiors giving that inside/outside feeling.

The ceiling with the existing portion of the dining was exposed and painted wood trusses which allowed the round duct work to be an accent weaving through the webs. Lighting of similar industrial flair highlight the various features inside including punctuations of metal and barn wood as an interior finish. Logos and graphics will aborn much of the interior walls as BIG RIVER will decide final placement for much of this work.

We were excited about this new chain of restaurants that will eventually be sprinkled across the east near most of the college university markets. This one just may be the first of many as we are currently under plan review at the city of Raleigh and have sent the project out for bidding by general contractors specializing in restaurant work and fast pace construction methods.

This should be a WICKED one guys. Be sure to check back regularly as we hope to be under construction by the middle of February and complete a few short weeks later.

Everything is a team effort

Lead Designers: Dahlia White and Abby Hoffman

Ionic DeZign Studios

"Where Art and Architectue Come Together."

D. Eugene Thompson

www.ionicdezigns.com

Being a Morning Person

A great little hint from Hal Elrod

Miracle Morning

How you start your day sets the context and your mindset for the rest of the day. 

Yet, most people start the day with procrastination by hitting the snooze button, telling their subconscious that they don’t even have the self-discipline to get out of bed in the morning, let alone do what’s necessary to be happy, healthy and successful.

Stand-up comedian Demetri Martin's humorous take on the subject sums it up well: Hitting the snooze button in the morning doesn’t even make sense. It’s like saying, "I hate getting up in the morning so I do it over and over and over again." 

When the alarm clocks starts beeping in the morning, consider it to be akin to life’s first gift to us. It’s the gift of time to dedicate to creating the life you want and working toward your goals and dreams while the rest of the world is asleep. 

If it weren't for the following strategy, I'd still be snoozing through my alarm clock every morning and clinging to my old limiting belief, claiming that I was not a morning person.  

How do you give yourself the motivation to rise up early and create an extraordinary day, when your wakeup motivation level is only a 1 or 2 on a scale of 1 to 10? 

Follow this five-step strategy, which is so incredibly simple and easy to do, you'll have no excuse to forgo being an early bird and win the day. 

Step #1: Set intentions before bed. 

Your first thought in the morning might be the same as the last one you had before you went to bed. Many people have nights, whether it's Christmas Eve or the prelude to a vacation, when they can hardly fall asleep because they're so excited about waking up the next morning. Then as soon as the alarm clock sounds, they open theigr eyes with enthusiasm to skip out of bed and embrace the day. 

On the other hand, if your last thought before bed is something like “Oh man, I can’t believe I have to get up in six hours; I’m going to be exhausted,” then your first thought when the alarm sounds is likely, “Oh my gosh, has it already been six hours? I just want to keep sleeping!” 

So the key is to consciously decide the next-day's intentions every night to actively and mindfully create a positive expectation for the next morn.

Step #2: Move the alarm clock across the room. 

If you haven’t done so already, move the alarm clock as far away from the bed as possible. This forces you to rise from bed and engage in movement. I find that movement can energize me. But if you keep your alarm within arm’s reach, you’re likely to hit the snooze button every time. 

Step #3: Brush your teeth. 

Give your body time to wake up. After turning off your alarm clock, go directly to the bathroom sink to brush your teeth and maybe splash some warm (or cold) water on your face. Simple activities like these can increase your wakeup motivation level from a 1 or a 2 to a 3 or 4.  

Step #4: Drink a full glass of water. 

This is crucial. After six or eight hours without water, you may be mildly dehydrated, which can cause fatigue. Often when people feel tired what they really need is more water, not more sleep.  

When you drink a glass of water and hydrate yourself, your wakeup motivation level goes from a 3 or a 4 to a 5 or 6. 

Step #5: Get dressed in your workout clothes.  

Dress in your exercise clothes, so you’re ready to leave your bedroom. Some people prefer to start their day by jumping into the shower. But I believe people should earn a morning shower by first breaking a sweat.

In my experience, morning exercise helps me maximize my potential by putting me in a peak mental, physical and emotional state to win the day.   

Sometimes it Takes Motivation Every Morning

Sometimes it happens to me.......again…and .....again

I just lay there. Still. Eyes closed. Mind racing, but body stagnant. The battle had begun…

Should I wake up and work out/send emails/write a new article/do anything mildly productive, or should I surrender to just one more hour of restless sleep.

On most days, this wouldn’t be a battle. I am better than that.

But even the mightiest success chasers need new sources of motivation every once in a while.

You see, most of us are indeed crazed to succeed, and rarely need any external pushes to get ahead. We are intrinsically motivated beasts 99.99% of the time, but one day (or week, or month…don’t judge) there will come a time where you everything will seem gloom, the important goals you’ve set for yourself become less noticeable than an extra 15 minutes of quasi-sleep, and the rollercoaster hits its lowest valleys.

WHY?!? Because you CAN create the life you want, but only if you work your rear end off to create it.

WHY?!? Because you INSPIRE others through your work, words, and actions, so it’s your responsibility to be a good role model for those who look up to you.

WHY?!? Because certain jobs, people, and friends passed you over, and it’s on you to PROVE THEM WRONG.

WHY?!? Because your family, friends, and supporters WANT TO SEE YOU SUCCEED.

WHY?!? Because you are a LEADER, and because people DEPEND on you.

However, all that being said, I know some days are harder than others, and because there have been days (weeks, months…) that I’ve had this same problem, I want to give you some ways to get motivation EVERY morning.

Make it a habit, just like brushing your teeth and tying your shoelaces, to seek sources of motivation every single morning. Watch an inspirational Youtube video, listen to you favorite, potentially-Rocky-inspired song, or get a group of friends together for a daily, 5 minute “pep” conference call.

Meditate and think of all the things in life you are grateful for. Give yourself a start on a miracle morning.

Prepare my friends for a new beginning and news start in 2015.

Wishing you all much greater success this year than the last.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIAHR

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com

My Secret Formula?

Sometimes the most difficult part of anything we ever do is starting. Honestly I'd rather just sit my butt right here and not do anything......but that would get boring really quick. Although I may hate the idea of beginning something (regardless of whether I've done it once, a few times, a gazzillion times or never at all) I always feel some much better once I've completed that task. It just takes me getting started.

I try to motivate myself....pump myself up......yes, like Hans and whatever that other guy's name is. It is important to be encouraged and it isn't always practical to have someone else there to tell you. Take steps to become self sufficient in your own motivation. Write it down, put it on your calendar, send yourself a message.....whatever helps just do it!

 

So this morning I needed to go for a 10 mile run to get geared up for the marathon in a few weeks. (truthfully I needed to run more but haven't been up to running in the cold) So I needed to run 10 miles, felt like running only 5......started to make excuses while I'm running that I would do more later.....you know that aint gonna happen. So I ended up doing a Forest Gump and ran a half marathon distance (13 miles) before work......felt great!

 

Just do it my friends.....you will be self motivated!

 

D. Eugene Thompson

www.ionicdezigns.com

Ionic DeZign Studios

Merry Christmas To All

The holiday season is a time for games.......so IONIC made its own game to play. Have a fantastic time with your family and friends. Don't forget to tell them how much you love them.

Do you RUN your company?

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237426

Interesting article regarding running marathons. Not sure I can truly qualify for this but maybe it helps.

Eugene Thompson

www.ionicdezigns.com

"Where art and architecture come together."