HRACRE Excellence in Development Design Awards
November 15, 2023
Speight Marshall Francis celebrated six project wins from twelve nominations at the 2023 HRACRE Excellence in Development Design Awards.
The Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate (HRACRE) presents the Excellence in Development Design Awards to identify and reward design excellence in the Hampton Roads region. This year's celebration took place at the Neon House in Norfolk, Virginia, and showcased forty-five remarkable design projects.
Speight Marshall Francis (SMF) contributed structural engineering services to twelve of the nominated projects:
- The Constitution
- Hampton Virginia Aquaplex
- Dollar Bank Town Center Branch
- Fairbanks Morse Defense Service + Training Facility
- Market Heights Apartments
- Ohio Creek Watershed National Disaster Resilience Project
- 555 Belaire at Summit Pointe
- Summit Pointe, Block 3 Multi-Family/Commercial
- Richard A. Tucker Memorial Library
- Old Beach Apartments
- Embassy Suites at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort
- Chrysler Museum of Art-Perry Glass Studio Expansion
Of the twelve nominations, SMF celebrated six wins with the design-build teams behind these incredible projects. Learn more about these projects below or view the complete list of award winners.
Thank you to HRACRE and the talented teams that continue to contribute thoughtful and innovative design to our communities.
Awards of Excellence
555 Belaire at Summit Pointe
Best Commercial/Industrial/Office Building
Chesapeake, VA
Submitted by: Saunders + Crouse Architects
555 Belaire is an unrivaled six-story, 150,000 S.F. Class A office tower with creative architectural spaces nestled between Volvo Parkway and Belaire Avenue.
Ocean View Wayfinding + Beach Access
Best Landscape Project
Norfolk, VA
Submitted by: VIA Design
Erosion and time had taken its toll on the dunes at 9th Bay Street in Norfolk, Virginia. The new overwalk structure and railing allow controlled pedestrian access which protects the dunes and ensures the enjoyment of this beautiful natural area.
Ohio Creek Watershed National Disaster Resilience Project
Best Sustainable Project
Norfolk, VA
Submitted by: MEB
This $112M transformational coastal improvement project's goal was to reduce flooding and improve public spaces to ensure our communities thrive for years to come. The project included various landscape and hardscape options to improve flooding, public access to the waterway and connections to the rest of the city. Speight Marshall Francis’ work included designing foundations for the associated Kimball Terrace T-Wall, precast arch bridge, Kimball & Haynes Creek crossing culvert, and Kimball Terrace box culvert.
Awards of Merit
Richard A. Tucker Memorial Library
Best Institutional/Public Building
Norfolk, VA
Submitted by: Tymoff + Moss Architects
SMF provided structural engineering and Agent 1 Special Inspections services for this 11,500 S.F. single-story library utilizing masonry bearing walls, steel columns and beams, and steel framing along with cross-laminated timber (CLT) decking over the main common spaces.
Highlights include administrative offices, a computer lab, meeting rooms, study areas, and an outdoor nature classroom.
Summit Pointe Block 3 Multi-Family/Commercial
Best Multi-Family/Commercial Housing Project
Chesapeake, VA
Submitted by: Saunders + Crouse Architects
Block 3 of this multi-phase housing project includes the Mosaic, a luxury apartment tower that features a resort-style swimming pool, lap pool with infinity edge, cabanas, firepits, and more. This 270-unit multi-family community includes a 515-space parking garage and 30,000 S.F. of retail space on the first floor.
Additionally, Block 3 consists of apartment buildings similar to Block 1 with 355 units.
The Constitution
Best Multi-Family/Commercial Housing Project
Virginia Beach, VA
Submitted by: Cox, Kliewer & Company, P.C.
The Constitution is a 524,570 S.F. six-story mixed-use building located minutes away from the amenities and offerings of Virginia Beach's Town Center. The lower two stories provide a leasing office, 14,000 S.F. of commercial space, and parking for over 480 vehicles. The top four stories are comprised of 219 large apartments and tenant amenity spaces.