The Virginian-Pilot

The Virginian Pilot Building (historic), 150 West Brambleton Avenue (S.R. 337), West Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA, USA

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Preservation and Conversion of the historic 175,000 square foot Virginian-Pilot offices building into 169 dwelling units with amenities.

Markets

adaptive reuse, multifamily, mixed-use, parking, residential, tax credit

Disciplines

electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, storm

Team

Tribble Electric

Monument Development

Project Spotlight

Design details.

Overview

Formerly the headquarters of the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, this historic 175,000 square foot property and neighboring annex were purchased by Richmond-based The Monument Companies and converted into 169 dwelling units with ample amenities. The Monument Companies are absolute pros at breathing new life into Historic buildings and helping to preserve timeless buildings that contribute to the character and personality of a city scape. It's always a pleasure to work through challenging projects like this one with trusted partners.

Mechanical

Due to space restrictions and the need to preserve historic elements, HVAC was handled by ducted mini-splits that were able to be set above the restroom ceilings with access panels, keeping ductwork hidden within soffits at central points in each dwelling unit. Dryer vents and bathroom exhaust had to be taken to the roof as the facade could not be altered.

Electrical

The building shared space with the utility itself, which made coordination of the electrical service a unique challenge. 5000 amps of 120/208 3 phase power were delivered to the building switchgear, which feeds the fire pump, building amenities, and a series of dwelling unit distribution panels. Dwelling unit load centers are fed from the distribution panels on each floor. The building required a life safety generator due to various code and programming requirements, leading to the need for a Selective Coordination study.

Plumbing

Each floor of this building had a totally unique layout which created complex challenges for routing drainage and water to each dwelling unit. The 2-1/2" domestic water service was fed to the dwelling units through a variable speed booster pump. Distribution loops were installed on alternating floors to feed units on that level and the level above. Local codes required for all HVAC condensate to be separately collected and delivered to the storm system. This was handled by a series of 2" stacks running through the HVAC closets in each unit and tied into the storm system on site.