Architectural Products on WPA: “Community Architecture at its Finest”

Written by WPA on . Posted in Assembly, Chrysler Museum, Community, Elizabeth River Project, Glass Studio, Mel Price, Norfolk, Virginia, WPA.

Community is critical to the work we do at Work Program Architects. Whether we’re working with local officials, engaging small business owners or talking with neighbors about their hopes and concerns, we rely on their voices to help our projects enhance the social, economic, and environmental landscape of our region.

Barbara Horwitz-Bennett at Architectural Products recently highlighted this aspect of our work in her Last Details column, going so far as to call the work WPA does “a shining example of community architecture at its finest.” 

To support that superlative statement, she shared some of our favorite community-focused projects, like the Ryan Resilience Lab, OpenNorfolk, and the Perry Glass Studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Each of these projects reflects our mission to make communities stronger, more vibrant, and more resilient.

“We view the community as a major stakeholder in the work we do. They might not be the ones calling for a proposal, but they will be impacted by the environments we help build,” WPA CEO Mel Price told Horwitz-Bennett. “For a project to be successful, those impacts need to be taken into account, which means that those people need to be listened to.”

Read the full article in Architectural Products here.

The Architect’s Newspaper Showcases WPA’s Approach to Community Engagement

Written by WPA on . Posted in Architecture, Community, Uncategorized, WPA.

When it comes to design, community engagement doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Here at Work Program Architects, we believe it’s the foundation of every successful project. 

In a recent article for The Architect’s Newspaper, CEO Mel Price and Director of Urban Design Peter Johnston shared how WPA approaches community engagement, emphasizing the importance of building trust, fostering emotional connections, and empowering communities. They write:

When a new building or development is planned in a neighborhood, it is only natural that emotions run high. A new project doesn’t just change the skyline and sightlines, after all; it alters the fabric of communities in a way that can be unnerving for even the most open-minded resident. 

In our practice, Work Program Architects (WPA), we work on civic-oriented projects, which often get some pushback from residents and other stakeholders. Each project is different, but collectively they have provided us with valuable insights about complexities of community dynamics and the value of a well-run community engagement plan. 

It may be tempting to regard this part of the process as another box to check, but designers and builders can’t afford to treat community engagement as an afterthought. Done wrong, this critical part of the design process can lead to mistrust, opposition, and polarization. 

Read the full article in The Architect’s Newspaper here.

The Ryan Resilience Lab is nearing completion

Written by WPA on . Posted in Architecture, Civic, Community, Education, Elizabeth River Project, Environment, ERP, Norfolk, Reslience, Virginia.

The Ryan Resilience Lab is nearing completion in the North Colley area of Norfolk. The new lab is located on Knitting Mill Creek and slated for a spring grand opening. There are a number of “preview events” during the month of November, go to elizabethriver.org for more information. WTKR recently toured the new Resilience Lab. Click here to see the segment.

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