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

Written by WPA on December 12, 2024. 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.

WPA’s Open-Books Policy Highlighted in Fast Company Article

Written by WPA on September 14, 2024. Posted in Architecture, Norfolk, Uncategorized, Virginia, WPA, WPA Studio.

People aren’t supposed to talk about their paychecks with their coworkers, much less other employees’ paychecks. That’s been the accepted wisdom for a very long time. But now some businesses, including Work Program Architects, are challenging that assumption and experimenting with open-books policies in the office. Recently, WPA CEO Mel Price and Associate Principal Erin Agdinaoay shared WPA’s experience with the readers of Fast Company. They write:

Some of the results of our transparency work were expected. The culture of openness built trust. Managers were more likely to trust the staff to be responsible with their time and the firm’s finances, while staff could trust that managers were being honest with them, even if they didn’t agree with every decision.

Pay transparency also helped us keep potential pay disparities in check, which helped foster a culture of belonging. We have found that people specifically seek out WPA as an employer because of our transparency, and that pay transparency, in particular, has contributed to our ability to be more equitable, diverse, and inclusive.

Something else happened that we didn’t expect. By openly sharing information, we were treating everyone like an owner. As a result, we had employees who behaved like owners. We knew, though, that this approach was sustainable only if we actually rewarded our team members with ownership.

Read the full Fast Company article here.

Work Program Architects Names Two New Principals, Updates Staff Titles for Future Growth

Written by WPA on May 3, 2024. Posted in Chrysler Museum, Elizabeth River Project, Glass Studio, Norfolk, NSU, Principal, Science, Virginia, WPA, WPA Studio.

Norfolk, Virginia, May 3, 2024 — The principals of Work Program Architects are excited to announce a number of changes to staff titles and roles that position the firm for future growth, including naming architects Erin Agdinaoay and Sam Bowling as associate principals. Agdinaoay and Bowling will join co-founders Mel Price and Thom White in leading the firm.

In addition to Agdinaoay and Bowling, three other long-time team members have received new titles and responsibilities.

Stacey Crawshaw has been named marketing director and will collaborate closely with WPA’s urban designers, architects, interior designers and graphic designers while continuing to play a pivotal role in brand development, graphics and print design. Sharon Manana has been named director of community engagement and will facilitate productive discussions with diverse groups and individuals impacted by WPA projects. John Stephens has been named director of operations and will oversee the firm’s daily operations, monitoring project progress and managing staff workloads to ensure timely completion.

“We have been growing as a firm and our staff has been making the adjustments and sacrifices to deliver success for our clients” says CEO Price. “These new titles are both a recognition of the work that this amazing team is already doing and a necessary step to assure that WPA will continue its work to build more resilient communities well into the future.”

Since its founding in 2010, WPA has contributed to numerous projects that address social, economic, and coastal resilience in Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, along with other communities in Virginia and North Carolina. Its current projects include the Ryan Resilience Lab for the Elizabeth River Project, the Perry Glass Studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art and the new Science Building for Norfolk State University.

Houndstooth: the Redevelopment of the Greyhound bus station

Written by WPA on April 16, 2024. Posted in Arts & Design District, Downtown Norfolk, NEON, Norfolk, Residential, WPA, WPA Studio.

We are excited to announce that we are partnered with Breeden on the design and development of “Houndstooth” on the site of the Greyhound bus station at the corner of Granby and Brambleton.

Click here to read more about Houndstooth and to view proposed renderings.