Best Conceptual Project Award Goes to… PMA Architecture

Norfolk Municipal Center Concept Recognized With HRACRE Award

PMA Architecture received the Award of Merit for Best Conceptual Project for the City of Norfolk Municipal Center Conceptual Design at the 2022 HRACRE Excellence in Development Design Awards, held at the Half Moon Cruise and Celebration Center in downtown Norfolk.

Completed for the City of Norfolk in the summer of 2021, PMA’s conceptual design proposes a bold vision to convert the 160,000 square foot former Nordstrom Building at MacArthur Center into a new Municipal Building for the city. Key features of the design include a stunning new glass façade and a soaring, sunlit atrium that channels light into interior spaces.

The concept, which advanced the vision of a massive transformation of the former retail building into a workplace housing over 300 city employees, was crafted to promote a healthy work environment and to have reduced environmental impact. The design incorporates abundant natural light and adopts Well Building Institute principles that promote a “people first” approach in addressing building systems, finishes, lighting, acoustics and other design elements.

PMA Architecture’s design team collaborated with Clancy & Theys Construction Company, Stemann | Pease Architects, and engineers on the project. Architects and Interior Designers at PMA created a life-like video animation was shows how natural light illuminates the lobby / atrium throughout the day, worked with specialty furniture providers to craft a furniture plan, and developed a 3D printed model that was presented to the City.

Judges praised the concept’s “radically renovated façade” and “the appropriately, stately federal scale of the exterior” – an elegant vision that leverage’s the rare opportunity to create a new landmark right in the heart of Norfolk’s downtown. They also commented on the “impressive re-use of resources” in the renovation concept. The jurors summed up their comments by exclaiming, “What a great, BIG idea.”

Consulting architects David Stemann and Ed Pease, who collaborated on the design, were on hand to join PMA Principals Jeff and Katie Stodghill, Architectural Designer Akshar Patel, and other members of the PMA team in accepting the award. Much fun was had celebrating after the event at FishPig Café, a Selden Market restaurant located just a few blocks away that is owned by the popular James Beard Award finalist chef Sydney Meers, a long-time PMA client.