The Landmark Center | ForKids

The Landmark Center, a regional center for children and families in Chesapeake, Virginia was developed for ForKids, a local nonprofit working to end family homelessness.

The Landmark Center, a regional center for children and families in Chesapeake, Virginia was developed for ForKids, a local nonprofit working to end family homelessness.

The Landmark Center is a beacon of hope, serving as the regional headquarters for ForKids, while also accommodating the entire ForKids staff, operation spaces, retail, warehouse and distribution spaces, childcare center, and housing for approximately 20 families. Our innovative and collaborative approach enabled us to create a space that provides every family with a chance to stay together, heal, and thrive.

Replacing turn-of-the-century buildings, the Landmark Center is a modern state-of-the-art facility that features an efficient design geared towards maximum service capacity while improving access to public transit and regional highways. Additionally, we used "Trauma-informed" design principles to create a calm and welcoming environment for families that complements the exceptional work done by ForKids.

Our solutions were designed using REVIT, ensuring technical accuracy and efficiency, and were supported on a deep foundation system to create a podium structure that separates use groups.

Senior Structural Engineer, Mike Ridge, PE, provided an insightful look at SMF's contrubtions to this oustanding project:

• The building required a unique foundation design along Poindexter Street so as to not disturb the existing sidewalk.
• Due to floor height restrictions on the three-story housing side, close coordination was required with the mechanical engineer so the structure did not interfere with their ductwork.
• Four separate rooftop screenwalls to hide mechanical equipment were added to project after initial design and required extensive structural steel to retrofit the existing structure.
• A 3,600 sf roof deck for up to 200 occupants includes a screenwall and two sun shade structures that required additional structure and customized detailing for support.

At Speight Marshall Francis, our solutions go beyond structures to include support systems and facilities that help families stabilize, access vital resources, and regain their footing. The Landmark Center is the embodiment of our warm and collaborative approach to providing practical and efficient solutions that revitalize communities.