National Guard Salon & Barbershop
The Boathouse: Re-Imagined
Out now is the second issue of AltDaily’s publication, Cannonball City. Inside, Thom and John Vitale have collaborated on an article about re-imagining the Boathouse, Norfolk’s legendary rock venue. To read about it, go grab a copy of Cannonball City, and for a longer version of the article, AltDaily’s post.
Coincidentally, the release of this article has found the Boathouse demolished. Bad news aside, this will lead to two other projects. Stay tuned!
First Landing State Park
WPA’s concept for turning First Landing State Park’s welcome center (Virginia Beach, VA) into an educational exhibit.
Downtown Norfolk Re-Imagining
WPA was hired to re-imagine this building on Monticello Avenue. We came up with two proposals. One option is a block-long arcade while the other splits the ground-level facade into individual storefront entrances.
Chesapeake Residence Renovation
We’ve completed Schematic Design for the Interior Renovation of a private residence in Chesapeake, Virginia. Looking forward to fine-tuning the details and getting the project under construction.
The Plot
WPA has been heavily involved over the last 6 months with an ad hoc committee assembled by the Downtown Norfolk Council tasked with bringing life to an empty lot at the core of our downtown. The site is the future home of a Westin hotel and conference center that has been delayed by the economic downturn. Rather than let it sit empty and forlorn, we have put together plans to activate the space (on a very limited budget) largely using reclaimed materials.
The overall plan provides for:
-A stage and bleacher seating for programmed and impromptu performances
-Tables and seating for socializing
-Parking space for Food Trucks
-Recreation in the form of half-court basketball
-Shade
The reclaimed materials include:
-Deer rubbed trees from the city nursery
-Planters from the previous Granby Pedestrian Mall
-Used shipping containers
-Used shipping pallets
-Discarded sidewalk pavers
Visitors Center
WPA completed the design work for this visitor’s center for a government client.
Dare Marina Restaurant
WPA is currently completing the construction documents for a new restaurant building at Dare Marina in Yorktown. The site is classic Tidewater: a beautiful inlet of the Chesapeake Bay in Grafton, and the building relates directly to the local water’s edge vernacular. A deep porch wraps around for outside dining and taking advantage of the views and breezes. The main Dining Room is eighteen feet tall and includes high clerestory windows and double sliding glass doors on all sides for maximum day-lighting. And a cupola with wrap-around deck perches on top for observation over the whole of the marina docks at an even better vantage for the beautiful view.
The Kiosk
Thom has been collaborating since January with 14 other architects, architectural interns, and students from around Virginia as part of the 2011 Emerging Leaders in Architecture program, an honors academy organized by the Virginia Society AIA. Part of this collaboration has been a study of the neighborhood of Manchester in Richmond, and the development of a Kiosk to serve as a physical point of conversation and engagement with the community. A portion of the Kiosk was built as a prototype by Thom, Dan Zimmerman, and Amrit Singh this past weekend in Charlottesville. The build will be installed in Manchester in September, and then put on display at this fall’s Architecture Exchange East in Richmond.
The Kiosk part 1 prototype, Dan, and Amrit.
Modeling by Amrit
Islamic Center, Norfolk
Islamic Center Designed by WPA
1442, West 49 St.
Norfolk, Va
Under construction
Construction progress,
