With the help of Cornerstone Architects, Pouncey Tract Veterinary Hospital in Glen Allen, VA wins a Merit Award in the 2008 Veterinary Economics Hospital Design Competition. Owner, Dr. Brad Zubowsky, is also awarded best hospital in the 6,500 square-foot and smaller category.  

The hospital is designed to have strong visual appeal on all four sides so it matches the style and character of the neighborhood. The outcome is a building looking more residential in character than a typical veterinary hospital. 

Cornerstone is currently working witht the Historic Jackson Ward Association to design and implement a set of new “Gateways” in the Jackson Ward area.  This is a conceptual image of what one might look like (pictured at the intersection of Chamberlayne and Jackson streets).  Let us know what you think!

Rick Peterson and I worked with HCA’s Johnston Willis Hospital to develop a conceptual design for a new Neurology ICU unit.  This proposed eight bed unit would replace the existing first floor ICU unit and allow for a higher level of patient care.   We presented a concept to administration helping them to decide whether to move forward with this project or not.

For my own curiosity, I would be open to hearing your own ideas or experiences with ICU units you may have worked on - either from a design or administrative perspective.

Working with James Doran Company (www. jamesdoranco.com) Cornerstone Architects begins phase I of Midlothian Town Center. This is a 35-acre, mixed-use development located at the intersection of Midlothian Turnpike and Winterfield Road in Chesterfield. This first phase of the 200,000 sf project has 30,000 sf of retail and an outparcel. 

First Fridays Artwalk - Richmond’s premier night out for the best art of the city! Eleven diverse arts facilities, located along the Historic Broad Street Corridor, participate in the Art Walk showing knockout exhibitions. All events are free and open to the public.

Cornerstone Architects opens its ‘Cornerstone Gallery’ doors the first Friday monthly, exhibiting a different local artist’s talents each month. This is a wonderful venue to create awareness and appreciation of arts and culture in Virginia.

Cornerstone Architects wants to promote the local visual-arts by linking artist to the area and helping them connect to other economic opportunities.

Style Weekly, a Richmond weekly cultural paper, recognized First Fridays as ‘The Most Exciting Thing to Happen in the Arts Community’. Over 31,000 people attended First Fridays in 2002-03. Already, the 2003-04 season has kicked off to a tremendous start with record crowds.

Over a year ago, Cornerstone Architects decided to become apart of the Historic Broad Street Corridor when it took on the adaptive reuse and historic renovation of a 92-year-old building. Clearly, Downtown has again become a magnet for economic development.

Participating in First Fridays Artwalk is one way Cornerstone Architects can help enhance the vitality of the Richmond community.

Come visit us at 23 West Broad Street for a walk on the creative side. For more information, contact Jane Milici at 804-353-3051.

It all began when Steve Soble, President of Spare Time Chicago, first made contact with Cornerstone Architects in April 2003 on one of his frequent trips home to Richmond from Chicago where he owns 10 family style theme restaurants.  Cornerstone Architects had just finished rehabbing a similar size building at 23 wests Broad for our offices.    Back in the day, this section of Broad Street was known as Furniture Row. The four blocks between 100 East broad and Jefferson Street once contained 12 furniture stores.  Jerry Soble, Steve’s father bought this building in 1963 and operated it continuously as Popkin Furniture. By 2003 he was one of the last remaining furniture stores in this area. Steve and his father are partners in this project.

Steve’s vision for his restaurant in this section of Broad Street was similar to his restaurants in Lincoln Park, Hyde Park, and the Southport Lanes all in Chicago.  All these areas have substantial turn of the century architecture and a young college educated population who live and work downtown.  Many of the Spare Time Chicago restaurants have bowling alleys in addition to billiards. In fact, Southport lanes in Chicago is one of only ten remaining hand set bowling alleys in the country. Our early plans included bowling in the lower level. I think bowling would have been popular here just as it is in Chicago but that area of the basement is prone to water seepage during heavy rains that would ruin the hardwood bowling lanes. Water proofing was discussed but the cost outweighed the benefit.

Recognizing the quality of the building and the corner location, the Owner wisely chose to target his preferred tenants with larger two bedroom apartments featuring refinished wood floors and original pressed tin ceilings.  This building yielded 6 apartments per floor for a total of 18 units.  Many of the other buildings in this area have been divided into small studio apartments taking away the charm of the space. The largest challenge we faced besides building new code required fire exit stairs, was taking down all this tin ceiling and putting it back to sheetrock and insulate the floor of the apartment above provide the proper fire rating. We also added a new four story elevator. The original birdcage elevator, while still functional in the furniture store, did not meet code.

The property is listed on the State Historic Register as a contributing property in the Old and Historic Broad Street and did utilize Historic Tax Credits. Cornerstone prepared all three Parts of the documentation and submittals for the State and Federal program.  This building is also located in the City Enterprise Zone which provided other Incentives such as the Real Estate Tax Abatement, and Real Property Investment Grants. 

This project was done in two phases. The first phase included the apartments, all of the code required improvements, a new roof, and the warm shell for the restaurant. The general contractor was R.E. Lee from Charlottesville. The construction cost was around $85/psf. Apartments became available for rent in December 2005.

Phase II included the entire restaurant finishes, the kitchen, and the built-in booths and tables.  The contractor was CKO Construction of Richmond. The cost of the fit-up work was around $60/psf. The Restaurant opened in October 2006.