Ryan Resilience Lab
Norfolk, Va.
EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY and Merit Award, Office/Retail/Mixed Use
Sent by: Hourigan
OWNER: Elizabeth River Project
Main design company: WPA
General contractor: Hourigan
Civil Engineer: Timmons Group
Structural Engineer: Speight Marshall and Francis PC
MEP Engineer: Pace Collaborative PC
Landscape Designer: SGA
Serving as a model of resilience and sustainability by demonstrating accessible methods for homeowners, developers and small business owners to live and build more sustainably, the structure is designed to “float” during major floods to ensure operational continuity and demonstrate resilience . The facility is also elevated on wooden piers 10 feet above ground level to mitigate flooding risks.
Photo courtesy Elizabeth River Project
The lab is strategically built in a former marina and social club between an avenue and a creek and has some of the fastest tides on the East Coast. It replaces an old bulkhead with a living shoreline, an educational park, and a pier that offers public access to self-guided, interactive tours. Interactive elements such as information displays, a rain garden and rain barrel cisterns in the education park demonstrate sustainable practices.
Photo courtesy Elizabeth River Project
The $8.3 million project was completed on budget and on schedule in 28 months.
Photo courtesy Elizabeth River Project
The 6,138 square meter laboratory includes office space, meeting areas and educational facilities for the Elizabeth River Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the Elizabeth River.
Photo courtesy Elizabeth River Project
Solar panels on the roof contribute to the lab’s goal of net zero energy use.
