Construction is nearing completion for this 4,700 SF warehouse renovation in the Berkley area of Norfolk. WPA has been working hand-in-hand with PG Harris and Space Design Group to design the renovation to this old pickle plant from the late 1800’s.
Framing is complete and windows have been installed at this long, skinny house on the Hague. The views from the turret are incredible, and we have just begun working on stone shop drawing review. Can’t wait for the masonry to start!
Thom of WPA and his sister Marissa of Studio Posy are featured in the Fall Edition 2013 of Distinction Magazine. A big thank you goes out to Mike Hixenbaugh for his thoughtful writing and to Eric Lusher for the wonderful photography. The photo shoot took place just after our studio expansion and renovations were complete; we are excited to have this moment in time captured in such a good light. Copies of the magazine are available at local Barnes & Noble and Harris Teeter stores or it can be ordered here.
The City of Norfolk engaged Team Better Block to work with the community to temporarily transform a portion of Granby Street into a vibrant preview of the upcoming Art and Design District. For two beautiful days in April, an amazing number of volunteers came together to realize a kind of “Living Charrette”; an experiment in urban design and pop-up commerce that included art galleries, performance spaces, and shops in empty storefronts; a public plaza with live music, art-making demonstrations, and a beer garden; food trucks parked along Granby Street; new sharrows and crosswalks painted on the street.
Better Block presented the perfect reason to retrieve The Kiosk from its resting place in storage at the Branch House headquarters of the VSAIA. It had renewed purpose to fulfill its function as a “content generation machine” with the goal of learning what people would like to see in the soon-to-be Art & Design District, much like it did in the three different locations around Old Manchester, Richmond. A hit with the huge crowd that attended the event, the Drawing Box quickly took on a new life as a tag wall for young and old alike. Our favorite: “Best Day Ever.” (though the Ninja Turtle was a close second).
Click this link to read Team Better Block’s assessment of Norfolk’s event (top five!), and be sure to watch the featured video by #PRESSPLAE – the Kiosk is featured at the end.
PANORAMIC VIEW OF BETTER BLOCK
VIEW FROM SOUTH
ZEDDS CORNER FUN
VIEW FROM INSIDE DRAWING BOX
ZEDDS CORNER VIEW TO LOWER GRANBY-SCOPE
VIEW FROM INSIDE DRAWING BOX
VIEW FROM INSIDE ADJACENT WINDOW
JUNIOR FIREMAN IN THE DRAWING BOX
ZEDDS CORNER AT NIGHT
NIGHT VIEW
PANORAMIC VIEW OF BETTER BLOCK
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim announced in early March the development of a full-service luxury hotel to be located downtown on the corner of Main Street and Granby Street. We are excited about this new addition to Norfolk, and look forward to the growth and jobs the hotel will bring to our city. For the press release, AltDaily is a great local news source that announced the event.