TCC Visual Arts and Design Center Featured in Retrofit Magazine

Students have now had a full year in the new Visual Arts and Design Center at Tidewater Community College, but the project is still gaining new fans in the architecture community. The most recent recognition of the adaptive reuse project comes from Retrofit Magazine, which included the center in its package of notable education retrofits.

Located at street level on Boush Street in downtown Norfolk, beneath the 15-story condominium community Harbor Heights, the space now occupied by the Visual Arts and Design Center was previously a grocery store. The new facility was a necessity for the college’s visual arts program, which was forced to borrow space from other departments after electrical issues made its previous home in Portsmouth untenable. 

The challenge for WPA was to quickly design, build, and deliver a new visual arts center in the 38,180-square-foot space that could contain the college’s expanding programs, such as graphic design. Despite volatile pandemic pricing and supply chain challenges, the design and build team managed to stay on schedule and within budget, allowing for classes to start in the fall semester of 2023.

The Visual Arts and Design Center was featured alongside The Henry Ford history museum in Dearborn, Mich.; the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.; and Johns Hopkins University’s adaptive reuse of the Newseum building in Washington, D.C. (which is pictured on the cover of the magazine).

View the full issue here.

Commercial Coffee Hampton Roads at the NSU Innovation Center on Main Street

Join us on Wednesday, March 27th for a tour of the Norfolk State University Innovation Center on Main Street. Located in the heart of Norfolk’s business district, the center was created in partnership between the Norfolk State University Research & Innovation Foundation and the City of Norfolk to create a space to better connect students, faculty, and alumni with the greater business community. Because there is no defined end user, the Center is a model for flexibility and serve many purposes. It includes small and large conference areas that can be reconfigured many different ways. The space also includes individual break-out spaces and collaborative work areas, informal sitting and lounge areas, a catering kitchen/break room and four touch-down office spaces. Work Program Architects and Norfolk State University will be speaking about the center.
A special thank you to Work Program Architects for sponsoring!
As always, Commercial Coffee is free-of-charge so please click the “Register Now” link to confirm your attendance.
Paid parking at Commercial Place Garage or on-street metered parking are available.

 

Virginian-Pilot article By Briana Adhikusuma, Staff Writer

https://pilotonline.com/business/consumer/article_33d2d9a6-45a8-11e9-a0e7-cf457cc788c3.html

 

 

Norfolk State University – New G.W.C. Brown Memorial Hall Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Last Friday was an incredible day for WPA and our NSU family. We met so many wonderful alumni who came to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the new G.W.C. Brown Memorial Hall. We were lucky to meet the daughter and granddaughter of Dr. Brown who came to dedicate the new 154,000 Classroom and Performing Arts Building. Thank you to Norfolk State University. Our whole team was honored to work for you and with you on this project.

Continue reading

Oglethorpe University

Oglethorpe-Student Services Center Renderings_1Atlanta’s Oglethorpe University approached WPA to lead the predesign efforts for the renovation and consolidation of the Students Services (Financial Aid, Business Office, Bursar, and Registrar) into a one-stop-shop to welcome parents and students into Lupton Hall. Built in 1920, Lupton Hall and its carillon bells are situated at the heart of the Oglethorpe campus.

Continue reading

400 Granby Street  Suite 301 Norfolk, VA 23510 Studio: (757) 227-5310

© WPA Website Maintenance by

400 Granby Street
Suite 301
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 227-5310
© WPA
Website Maintained By