Norfolk | WPA - Work Program Architects

WPA Included on Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Written by WPA on August 18, 2025. Posted in Architecture, Awards, Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia, WPA.

Work Program Architects has been included in the 2025 edition of the Inc. 5000, a recognition that the Norfolk architecture and design firm is among the fastest-growing private companies in America. The Inc. 5000 list offers a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment — independent, entrepreneurial businesses.

“Making the Inc. 5000 is always a remarkable achievement, but earning a spot this year speaks volumes about a company’s tenacity and clarity of vision,” says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “These businesses have thrived amid rising costs, shifting global dynamics, and constant change. They didn’t just weather the storm — they grew through it, and their stories are a powerful reminder that the entrepreneurial spirit is the engine of the U.S. economy.”

WPA’s growth over the past three years has been fueled by landmark projects such as the Ryan Resilience Lab for the Elizabeth River Project, the Perry Glass Studio expansion at the Chrysler Museum of Art, and the Visual Arts and Design Center at Tidewater Community College. These projects — which have been showcased by the Today show and the Wall Street Journal, and helped earn the firm a 2025 Most Innovative Companies award from Fast Company — reflect WPA’s mission to design for and with the communities it serves, engaging residents, stakeholders, and partners at every step.

“From the very beginning, we’ve believed that design can bring people together and tackle tough challenges,” says WPA CEO and co-founder Mel Price. “That approach has both strengthened the communities we work in and driven our growth. This recognition is a testament to our team’s creativity, our clients’ trust, and our commitment to building a thriving, sustainable business.”

Since its founding in 2010, WPA has developed a reputation for design excellence and for pioneering a radically transparent business model — one that shares financial data, decision-making power, and ownership mindset with every team member. The firm’s open, collaborative culture has earned it a spot on Inc.’s Best Workplaces list and attention from industry outlets like Fast Company, The American Institute of Architects and People Managing People.

Companies on the 2025 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2021 to 2024. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies.

See the complete list here.

AIA Publishes Essay on Pay Transparency by WPA’s Erin Agdinaoay

Written by WPA on July 16, 2025. Posted in AIA, Norfolk, Pay Transparency, Uncategorized, Virginia, WPA, WPA Studio.

How architects engage with their work changes when they’re given access to the full financial picture. At Work Program Architects, it has resulted in more trust, more clarity, and more shared ownership. In a new essay for the American Institute of Architects, Associate Principal Erin Agdinaoay describes how WPA’s open-books policy has shaped not only her own leadership journey but also the firm’s culture as a whole. She writes:

WPA’s open-books policy fundamentally changes how architects engage at work. By providing open-book access to financial information, the policy allows employees to see how revenue, expenses, and salaries are interconnected, as well as how these financial elements relate to their role on projects.

Employees can see salary structures across all levels, from early-career architects to seasoned leaders. This visibility provides a clearly defined pathway for growth, linking responsibilities to compensation, and highlighting how individual contributions impact the firm’s revenue and profitability.

This transparency also fosters a sense of shared responsibility, encouraging employees to take ownership. With a clear understanding of the bigger financial picture, team members are empowered to advocate for their ideas and themselves while keeping the overall health of the firm in mind, fostering confidence and fueling career growth.

For a firm, these benefits extend beyond individual development. Transparency supports employee satisfaction, promotes retention, and cultivates a workplace culture where everyone feels valued and aligned with the company’s goals. By demystifying financial processes, the open-books policy at WPA has created an environment of trust and collaboration, strengthening the organization.

Read the full article here.

The Chrysler Museum of Art’s Plan for Coastal Resilience Highlighted by Virginia Mercury

Written by WPA on July 15, 2025. Posted in Architecture, Chrysler Museum, Civic, Glass Studio, Hampton Roads, NEON, Norfolk, Virginia, WPA.

As sea levels rise and sunny-day flooding becomes a familiar occurrence in Norfolk, the Chrysler Museum of Art is taking bold steps to protect its people, its collection, and its place in the community. A recent article in the Virginia Mercury details how the museum is confronting the climate crisis through a multi-phase master plan, which includes the recent completion of the Perry Glass Studio expansion.

Located at the edge of The Hague — a picturesque but increasingly flood-prone inlet of the Elizabeth River — the museum faces the kind of compounding environmental risks that are now confronting cultural institutions across the country. According to data cited in the article, more than a third of U.S. museums are located within 60 miles of a coastline, and many are unprepared for the damage that climate change is already delivering.

Work Program Architects (WPA) worked with the Chrysler to create a plan to meet these current and future challenges. The museum has already taken steps to modify its main building — installing deployable floodgates and relocating stored artwork to higher floors — but the museum’s most visible statement of intent is across the street: the new 21,000-square-foot addition to the Perry Glass Studio. Completed earlier this year, the $30 million expansion includes a host of resilient design strategies, from its elevation (four feet higher than the original studio) to its foundation, a system of 470 deep “rigid inclusions” that stabilize the soft, flood-prone soil beneath it.

The walkway to the new building winds through a sculptural rain garden that captures stormwater runoff and slows its release into the city’s strained stormwater system. The rain garden was intentionally designed so that visitors can experience the museum’s commitment to resilience firsthand.

“We didn’t want to hide the rain garden at the back of the property,” project architect Robert Crawshaw told the Mercury. “We wanted you to be immersed in the efforts that the Chrysler was doing.”

In a city that regularly sees tidal flooding without a drop of rain, the Chrysler’s willingness to adapt in place — rather than retreat — is both a practical and symbolic decision. “The Chrysler Museum is such a part of the identity of Norfolk in that location,” WPA co-founder and design principal Thom White told the Mercury. “The power of its connection to the community is worth keeping it there.”

Read the full story here.

The Wall Street Journal Spotlights the Perry Glass Studio’s Purpose-Driven Design

Written by WPA on June 27, 2025. Posted in Architecture, Chrysler Museum, Civic, Glass, Glass Studio, Norfolk, Reslience, Virginia, WPA, WPA Studio.

The expansion of the Chrysler Museum of Art’s Perry Glass Studio — designed by Work Program Architects — was recently featured in The Wall Street Journal in a glowing critique by architecture critic Michael J. Lewis. The piece, titled “The Perry Glass Studio’s Practical Power,” explores how the newly completed 24,000-square-foot expansion provides a different kind of experience to visitors.

The new studio is the latest step into glass art for a museum that knows the art form well — the Chrysler’s glass art collection spans over 10,000 objects and 3,000 years. As Lewis notes, the studio was designed for hands-on learning and public demonstration, reflecting a broader shift in museum culture, from passive viewing to active engagement. Its layout and features, writes Lewis, make the selected works on display “more comprehensible, even urgent.”

The article tracks the evolution of the building’s design. The Perry was originally envisioned as a glass-clad structure, but plans changed once the team confronted a core challenge of glassmaking: the need for stable, controlled lighting to monitor the subtle color changes in molten glass. Lewis paraphrases lead architect Rob Crawshaw while noting that the design evolved into a “straightforward, smoothly functioning workshop,” rather than a self-referential architectural statement.

Constructed from dark brick and light terracotta, the two-story building is elevated on a planted terrace to address site-level flooding. Its entrance is angled toward the main Chrysler building across the street, a subtle alignment that Lewis describes as a “genuflection” toward the museum, quoting Crawshaw. Inside, the central feature is a black-box theater hot shop with seating for 200, designed for both production and public demonstration.

Material choices reflect the studio’s industrial function. Exposed concrete floors, brick walls, and unfinished ceilings contribute to a space focused on making rather than display. Acoustic challenges were addressed through targeted sound-absorbing materials, allowing instruction to remain intelligible despite the constant roar of the furnaces.

Lewis concludes that the Perry Glass Studio succeeds as a highly effective and thoughtfully designed tool for education, production, and interpretation — helping visitors connect the physical act of glassblowing with the finished objects on display across the street.

Read the full article in The Wall Street Journal here.

Inc. Names Work Program Architects One of 2025’s Best Workplaces

Written by WPA on June 17, 2025. Posted in Architecture, Norfolk, Virginia, WPA, WPA Studio.

Work Program Architects has been named to Inc. magazine’s 2025 list of Best Workplaces, a national recognition honoring companies that “have continually invested in employee development, benefits, and experiences, no matter the obstacles.” WPA is one of 514 companies across the country selected for this year’s list.

“Inc.’s Best Workplaces program celebrates the exceptional organizations whose workplace cultures address their employees’ welfare and needs in meaningful ways,” said Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc. “As companies expand and adapt to changing economic forces, maintaining such a culture is no small feat. Yet these honorees have not only achieved it — they continue to elevate the employee experience through thoughtful benefits, engagement, and a deep commitment to their teams.”

The distinction is based on a comprehensive employee survey administered by Quantum Workplace, which measured engagement, leadership, development opportunities, and team dynamics. Inc. also audited each firm’s benefits and workplace policies to determine how effectively the company supports its people.

WPA’s inclusion highlights its long-standing commitment to cultivating an environment where trust is foundational, creativity is nurtured, and leadership is encouraged.

“We’ve always believed that architecture is about people — and that starts with the people inside our studio,” said WPA CEO Mel Price. “This recognition from Inc. is really a reflection of the trust, creativity, and shared leadership our team brings to the table every day. We care deeply about each other and the communities we serve, and that culture of care is what makes this place so special.”

See the full list of honorees at Inc.com.

Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab Named a ‘World Changing Idea’ by Fast Company

Written by WPA on June 10, 2025. Posted in Architecture, Civic, Education, Educational, Elizabeth River, Elizabeth River Project, ERP, Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Uncategorized, Virginia.

Work Program Architects is proud to share that the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab has been named a winner in Fast Company’s 2025 World Changing Ideas Awards. This national recognition honors bold, creative efforts that respond to society’s most pressing challenges, and this project’s message couldn’t be more urgent.

WPA was recognized alongside garbage-eating microbe technology developed at Harvard, a hydrogen-power data center created by ECL and the first-ever zero-plastic warehouse from Manifest.eco. Other architectural and design projects on the list include the Portland International Airport and the Hilda L. Solis Environmental Justice Center at Puente Hills Regional Park.

Fast Company noted that the resilience lab “not only used flood-proof materials but also integrated habitats like wetlands, oyster reefs, and native plants to naturally absorb floodwater, shield the structure from erosion, and protect its surroundings from pollution.” The recognition went on to write that “the natural habitats also serve as educational tools for the public, and the design itself can be a model for communities at risk of rising sea levels.”

“The Ryan Resilience Lab was designed as a global model for how communities can adapt to the realities of sea level rise and climate change,” says Sam Bowling, associate principal at Work Program Architects and project architect for the Lab. “That’s why it’s so meaningful to see it recognized by Fast Company as a World Changing Idea — this award spans the globe, just like the challenge we’re working to address.”

This year’s World Changing Ideas Awards featured more than 1,500 entries, with just 100 projects selected as winners. Submissions were judged by Fast Company editors and reporters for their impact, creativity, sustainability, and ability to improve lives. The Lab is included in the Summer 2025 print issue, on newsstands June 17.

“The World Changing Ideas Awards have always been about showcasing the art of the possible,” says Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan. “We’re proud to recognize the organizations and leaders that are making meaningful progress on the biggest issues of our time.”

Check out the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab here.

NSU Starts Work on $118M Facility to Expand Science and Research Opportunities

Written by WPA on May 8, 2025. Posted in Architecture, Education, Educational, Hampton Roads, Higher Education, Norfolk, NSU, Science, Virginia, WPA.

Norfolk State University (NSU) marked a major milestone on April 18 with a groundbreaking ceremony for its $118 million New Science Building, a project that promises to redefine the future of science education and research on campus. The event, which drew students, faculty, state officials, and community leaders, received widespread media coverage across WHRO, WAVY, The Virginian-Pilot, Virginia Business, and other outlets.

The new 131,000-square-foot facility will replace the Roy A. Woods Science Building and unite NSU’s biology, chemistry, and physics departments under one roof, alongside the Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS). With a planetarium, greenhouse, makerspace, and student-centered collaboration areas, the building is designed to foster innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and public engagement.

“This building will showcase science with its transformative architecture, thereby inspiring students to believe and achieve their goals,” said Dr. Michael Keeve, Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

Work Program Architects (WPA) and SmithGroup lead the design team, while S.B. Ballard Construction Company is serving as the Construction Manager. “This project puts scientific research and education on display in an environment that is inclusive, interactive and energizing,” said CEO Mel Price.

University leaders and project architects emphasized the building’s dual mission: supporting academic excellence while welcoming broader community engagement. Outdoor learning environments will connect the facility to the Ohio Creek watershed, while flexible interior spaces are designed to evolve alongside scientific discovery.

“It is another example of how Norfolk State University is building for the future of our students, our university and our community,” said NSU President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston.

Set to open in Fall 2027, the facility is targeting LEED Gold certification and aims to serve as a national model for immersive, interdisciplinary science education.

Read coverage of the groundbreaking from WAVY, WHRO, 13News Now, The Virginian-Pilot, Virginia Business, and The HBCU Advocate.

NBC’s Today Show Takes Viewers on a Tour of the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab

Written by WPA on April 25, 2025. Posted in Architecture, Civic, Community, Elizabeth River, Elizabeth River Project, Environment, ERP, Norfolk, Uncategorized, Virginia, WPA.

The Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab, designed by Work Program Architects, was recently featured on NBC’s Today show, bringing national attention to the Norfolk-based nonprofit’s groundbreaking model for climate resilience. The segment highlighted how the lab is providing both hope and inspiration for residents of coastal communities worldwide.

Consumer correspondent Vicky Nguyen took viewers on a tour of the lab as part of the show’s climate coverage, noting how it “showcases inventive and practical ways homeowners and builders can design structures to endure severe weather and combat pollution.”

Situated along Knitting Mill Creek in Norfolk, the 6,500-square-foot lab was intentionally built within a flood zone to showcase real-world solutions to environmental challenges. The building incorporates features such as a floating entry pavilion, permeable parking surfaces, rainwater reuse systems, green roofs, and a living shoreline, each element contributing to its net-zero energy goals and resilience against rising tides.

“The thing we kept in mind from the very beginning was sustainability, resilience to flooding, and accessibility,” project architect Sam Bowling told Nguyen. “We wanted to make sure that every solution was something that someone could buy off the shelf, put together with parts [and] do it themselves or find someone locally who could do it for them.”

The lab, which opened in Spring of 2024, provides tours and programming year-round for anyone interested in learning more about the solutions included in the Today show report, as well as those just looking to connect with the river.

People who visit the lab “are so excited,” said Elizabeth River Project Founder Marjorie Mayfield Jackson. “They come back with their neighbors and friends and colleagues. It’s a new day on the Elizabeth River and I hope it’s giving hope around the world.”

For the full Today show segment above and here. Read more about the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab here.

Expanded Perry Glass Studio Reopens at the Chrysler Museum of Art

Written by WPA on April 14, 2025. Posted in Architecture, Arts & Design District, Chrysler Museum, Civic, Downtown Norfolk, Educational, Glass, Glass Studio, Hampton Roads, NEON, Norfolk, Uncategorized, Virginia, WPA.

The Perry Glass Studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art has officially reopened following a $30 million expansion. The museum marked the occasion with a vibrant weekend of festivities that drew major media attention and hundreds of visitors. The grand opening included live glassblowing demonstrations by nationally recognized artists, a sold-out gala event, and a family-friendly festival featuring performances and hands-on activities.

In advance of the festivities, the expanded facility was featured across regional media outlets including 13News Now, WAVY, The Virginian-Pilot, and WHRO, all highlighting the studio’s striking transformation and its significance to Norfolk’s cultural landscape.

“It’s a dream come true to see it emerging fully finished and ready to go,” WPA’s Thom White told WAVY. “I think it will be huge. It will have the ability to reach a lot more visitors, to educate students and glassmaking and the arts around glass. It’s so versatile in the way that it can handle programming, whether that be productions in the theater, hot shop or this classroom.”

Work Program Architects led the design of the project, which more than tripled the size of the original studio and established it as a leading center for glass art in the U.S. The reimagined space includes a 190-seat amphitheater-style hot shop, dedicated classrooms, and state-of-the-art cold- and flame-working areas, all designed to accommodate a growing community of artists, students, and visitors. With a focus on transparency, accessibility, and environmental resilience, the expansion enhances both the creative and educational mission of the museum while preparing the site for future climate challenges.

Media coverage highlighted both the design and the experience it creates. 13News Now provided a behind-the-scenes video tour, while WAVY spotlighted the museum’s assistantship program, which is aided by the new space. In a written report, WHRO detailed the many ways community members, including university students, can utilize the facility to create their own works of art, while an episode of the station’s arts program, Curate, explored the studio and the artform, as well as the origins of the expansion.

“We interviewed several architectural firms up and down the east coast, from all the big cities,” said Robin Rogers, manager and program director for the Perry Glass Studio. “But it was a local firm, WPA, that really hit it out of the park.”

The Virginian-Pilot provided even more historical context to the recent developments, noting the glass studio’s beginnings as a 9,200-square-foot facility that “reached capacity after the huge demand due to the popular glassblowing classes and partnerships with local colleges and community organizations.”

“The workshops allow visiting and in-house artists to create new and innovative artwork on full display to visitors,” project architect Robert Crawshaw told The Virginian-Pilot. “And spaces throughout the expansion present opportunities for the museum to display these works.”

Watch and read coverage of the opening from WAVY, 13News Now, The Virginian-Pilot and WHRO. Read more about the project here.

Work Program Architects Named a 2025 Most Innovative Company by Fast Company

Written by WPA on March 24, 2025. Posted in Awards, Norfolk, Social Good, Uncategorized, WPA.

Work Program Architects (WPA) has been named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025, earning the #7 spot in the Social Good category. The annual list recognizes businesses and organizations leading their industries through bold ideas and meaningful impact.

“As the world shifts and industries transform, the World’s Most Innovative Companies aren’t just keeping up. They’re setting the pace,” wrote Fast Company in its introduction to this year’s list, which includes other forward-looking companies like Waymo, Athletic Brewing and BlueSky. “Fast Company’s annual look at the most groundbreaking companies in every industry and across the globe offers a snapshot of innovation today and a playbook for the future.”

The Most Innovative Companies recognition highlights WPA’s commitment to designing spaces that foster resilience and strengthen communities with a particular focus. The firm’s work is shaped by a guiding principle that every project must address at least two of three core objectives: economic resilience, social resilience, and coastal resilience.

“Architecture has the power to strengthen communities, but only when the design process prioritizes the needs of the people who live and work in these places,” said Mel Price, CEO of WPA. “This recognition from Fast Company underscores the importance of placing resilience and social impact at the forefront of design.”

In the write-up that accompanied the recognition, Fast Company highlighted the expansion of the Perry Glass Studio at Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum of Art. Completed in September 2024, the project tripled the studio’s size while integrating flood-mitigation strategies to protect it from recurrent flooding.

“WPA used advanced flood-mitigation techniques, including innovative subterranean engineering, to help raise the building above the floodplain, ensuring it can withstand rising sea levels and severe weather events,” Fast Company noted.

Fast Company also notes the impact the studio is having on the local creative economy, with nearly 1,500 community members participating in glassmaking by the close of 2024 and monthly visitors averaging 2,500 to 3,000. The project stands as a model for how cultural spaces can adapt to climate challenges while fostering community engagement.

Check out the full list of Most Innovative Companies here.