RVA Creativity Catalog by Palari Publishing LLP

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RVA Downtown: Creativity In Action

Recognizing the powerful role that creativity plays in Richmond, partners from around the city have developed an initiative to recognize the groundswell of Downtown’s inventive solutions to challenges, unique products, insightful design, cutting-edge art, authentic entertainment, tricked-out technology and the people whose passion and drive spark innovation.

That initiative is RVA. The RVA Creativity Catalog features just a sampling of the plethora of ideation and ingenuity in Downtown Richmond. There are many more businesses, organizations, artists, activists and other innovators fueling Downtown’s identity as a nucleus of imaginative vitality that spreads well beyond the city’s borders.

To discover about more creativity in Downtown Richmond, check out RVACreates.com.

i.e.*

Showcasing RVA: A brand new idea? Or new ideas as a brand?

Last year, the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce created i.e.*—a galvanizing initiative to raise RVA’s profile for innovative excellence. They also hired Chrystal Neal as Director of Creativity, Innovation and Special Projects to evolve and implement the i.e.* initiative by providing strategic leadership. “The fact that the Chamber is prioritizing the development and celebration of creativity and innovation in the Richmond Region is a fine example of innovative thinking among the Chamber leadership. My job will be to promote the creativity that already abounds and to develop programming to further showcase our collective community talents,” states Chrystal.

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www.ie-rva.org

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SMBW ARCHITECTS

Blur the lines between indoor and outdoor public spaces.

Moving soon to Shockoe Slip, but a staple in the area’s creative community, SMBW Archictects has a diverse portofolio of cutting-edge public and private projects including City Hall, Main Street Station, VMFA and UNOS headquarters. Their design for Affiliated Dermatologists of Virginia, located in Richmond [above photo] is a modern healthcare facility made up of two low-slung buildings. The structures are delicately sited on a wooded parcel to create a complex of small Zen pavilions. This strong connection to the landscape establishes a sense of place, relating the buildings to one another while defining an inner courtyard. The relationship to the landscape is strengthened by blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor at the public spaces. Transparency throughout the building allows a strong connection to the outside and a constant contact with natural light. www.smbw.com

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Shockoe Design District

Establish a virtual downtown district that becomes an epicenter of creative delight. Preeminent Richmond names in home design including These Four Walls, LaDifference, Ten Thousand Villages and other retailers, restaurants, artisans and companies are in the process of coalescing their creativity into the creation of the newly defined Shockoe Design District. Also participating is the newly formed Virginia Street Gallery [above photo ] that showcases a collective of 50 artists and galleries. The Virginia Street Gallery is organized by Karen Atkinson and features work by artisians from local farmers markets. Karen Atkinson founded The Market Umbrella to bring European-style open-air markets to the Richmond area. The markets provide the community with quality local, homemade, homegrown and handmade products, encouraging people to buy local and support farmers and artisans. themarketumbrella.com

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E-Merge Systems, Inc.

Engineer automation for everything from bottling and case packaging to water and food processing.

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E-Merge Systems, Inc. is a company brimming with smart engineers who are capable of cranking out everything from industrial automation to systems integration for a wide variety of industries. Based in the Slip, Inderdeep Huja, co-founder of EMerge, [ photo ] has built a reputation for forming teams (in Richmond, Maryland, and Delaware) with a quick response record and unmatched technical experience. The result, clients routinely optimize their systems’ efficiency, leading to impressive cost reductions. www.emergesystems.com

The Martin Agency

The Martin Agency has been a part of the culture of creativity in Richmond since 1965. Creators of arguably the most famous and longest running tourism slogan in the country, Virginia is For Lovers, The Martin Agency launched that provocative campaign in 1969. And that was just the beginning of famous creativity from this awardwinning shop that, in 2010, was named ‘2009 Best U.S. Agency of the Year’ by Adweek Magazine. They are the creators of Discover Card’s ‘Peggy,’ GEICO’s Gecko and Caveman, and UPS’s ‘What Can Brown Do for You?’ campaign. They also create advertising for Walmart, Hanes, BFGoodrich, Comcast, Norwegian Cruise Line, PING, Tylenol, Motrin, The American Cancer Society and Pizza Hut, just to name a few. The Martin Agency employs about 580 staffers in their Richmond headquarters building in historic Shockoe Slip. www.martinagency.com

Turn improbable product spokespersons into pop-culture icons. RVAcreates.com

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Fountain Bookstore

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Blend virtual and bricks-&-mortar communities.

Led by enthusiastic bibliophile Kelly Justice, the Fountain Bookstore (1312 E. Cary Street) is a quintessential neighborhood shop for the cozy browsing of best sellers as well as a source of an ongoing roster of local and national author readings. With the rise of tablets and eReaders, Justice has embraced the opportunity to sell Google e-books through the store’s website, allowing readers the convenience of shopping online and locally with the same purchase. Best of all, you can also access the store staff’s recommended reads. www.fountainbookstore.com

Proxios

Assemble work spaces in the clouds.

With Proxios Virtual Desktop (remote desktop) and cloud technology, this RVA company gives users access to office applications, virtual phones and other data resources without the upfront costs or headache of maintaining technology. Your apps are state-of-the-art and you never have to worry about backing up your data. www.proxios.com

TOBACCO LIVE

Redefine Sunday night.

Shockoe’s anchor restaurant and nightclub, The Tobacco Company along with RVA Magazine and Radio Rubber Room host various forms of live entertainment on Sunday nights. Tobacco Live presents regional comedians and local bands performing a music review showcase. Throw in a $2 Burger special and you have yourself a fantastic Sunday night!

Stop talking to robots! Liberate callers from auto-hold purgatory. Lucyphone

Naming their app from the acronym for “Let us call you,” Richmonders Mike and Tom Oristian have created Lucyphone, a service that lets you get out of hold by staying on the line when you hang up and calling you back once a live agent is on the phone. Promoting the call-center widget service, the Oristians have also taken to Twitter following 140-word customer complaints and enticing them to try the service. www.lucyphone.com

www.thetobaccocompany.com

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Over The Edge

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Mix a little fear with philanthropy and what do you get? Lots of teetering and Twittering.

There’s probably no better example than tossing your boss off the edge of a 25-story building, and then bragging about it on Twitter and Facebook. In 2009, River City Rappel enticed local businesses to “Toss Your Boss,” as well as individuals to go “Over the Edge,” to benefit Special Olympics Virginia. To increase the buzz, netizens took to social media, many livetweeting on their descent. This year’s event had 92 rappellers who raised more than $90,000. overtheedgeva.com

Intelliject

Ledbury

Convert pain into gain.

Create a niche market somewhere between haute couture and ready-to-wear.

In an era of endless replication and mass-produced brands, designer Paul Trible and business partner Paul Watson have distinguished their Ledbury line of men’s tailored shirts by focusing on quality materials and selling limited releases of designs through their online boutique and their recently expanded storefront on 14th Street. Just listen to Trible talk about the “engineering” of a shirt collar on their site’s video and you’ll understand the passion behind the product.

After growing up with severe allergies and experiencing life-threatening emergencies due to difficulties with rapid epinephrine delivery, Eric Edwards and his twin brother, Evan, have dedicated their careers to inventing a device to deliver epinephrine in a more patient-friendly way. The novel auto-injector that the Edwards brothers invented has gained widespread interest for use with many different injected medicines. Intelliject got its start at the Virginia Biotechnology Park. www.intelliject.com

www.ledbury.com

Build it and they will come. But if you design innovative architecture over a decade, they will come with awards. Commonwealth Architects

Commonwealth Architects received the 2011 T. David Fitz-Gibbon award. The highest honor bestowed by the Virginia Society to a Virginia-based architecture firm, the FitzGibbon Architecture Firm Award recognizes a firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture for at least ten years. Since 1999, Commonwealth Architects has completed numerous adaptive reuse and rehabilitation projects including Movieland at Boulevard Square, Hotel John Marshall, Miller & Rhoads Building and the Berry-Burk Building. www.comarchs.com RVAcreates.com

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S H O C K O E B O TT O M

S H O C K O E B O TT O M Revitalization Strategy for Shockoe Bottom Guide future development by tapping into your heritage. With seven areas of innovative adaptation of existing space highlighted, the City of Richmond’s Department of Economic and Community Development rolled out the “Shockoe Revitalization Strategy for the Shockoe Bottom” to guide the area’s future growth. The plan rethinks and invigorates existing anchor spaces such as Main Street Train Station and Concourse [photo above] to attract creative knowledge-based business and create a welcome/travel center. Also in the plan is the creation of a Heritage District that incorporates the current efforts to develop a slavery museum, an African-American genealogical center and a glass-enclosed site of Lumpkin’s Jail. Among the plan’s strategies for revitalization is replacing current industrial zoning in favor of mixed-use development to enable more live work and play options in the form of lofts, apartments, entertainment venues, galleries, restaurants, public spaces, and stores. www.richmondgov.com

Tailor machines to individual users’ bodies. Tektonics Design Group: Caelifera & Stijl custom bikes

Comprised of architects, industrial designers and fabricators, Tektonics Design Group is a specialty design and fabrication firm that provides prototyping solutions to traditional architectural, interiors, and industrial design services. Tektonics also creates their own line of products through offshoot companies Stijl Cycles and Caelifera that have evolved into custom bicycle fabrication brands. Caelifera and Stijl are focused on the creation of unique frames and components that are custom tailored to the rider’s biomechanical and aesthetic preferences. Cirque du Soleil commissioned the specialty bikes for their production in Orlando, FL. www.tektonics.com

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In Your Ear

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Shavefx, Inc.

such notable projects as recording the vocal

ShaveFX, an animation and visual effects company in Shockoe Bottom, has been developing a pitch for an original animated TV series geared more towards adult tastes. Epic Abraham is a gritty mixture of history, legend and lore set in the early 1800’s. Collaborating with creator Joseph Ryan and local Pixel Pirate Studios, and utilizing talented local animators, ShaveFX hopes to launch the series nationally while anchoring production in Richmond.

nominated album. In partnership with Dreams

Mash up an animated 1800’s history, legend and lore.

www.EpicAbraham.com

tracks for F.A.M.E., Chris Brown’s 2012 GrammyFactory (www.Dreamsfactory.com), Tim Reid Productions, and Obsidian Productions, the studio is currently completing Keepers of the

Flame, a film produced for The Virginia State Capitol Foundation. www.lobe.com

H.L. Reed Design, Inc.

Transform commercial and residential spaces into oases of style using current design resources and innovative approaches.

“We are able to adapt to our clients’ needs because we are constantly exposed to new things,” says Helen Reed, whose interior design firm has created the atmosphere for restaurants such as The Boathouse Restaurant at Rocketts Landing [ photo left and bottom ], stores, and homes throughout Richmond and beyond. Sustainability, she explains, is among H.L. Reed Design’s top priorities. Look for H.L. Reed’s newest work at such spots as 525 at the Berry Burk [see page 23 for related article], Mint, and Blue Toad Restaurant. hlreeddesign.com

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Create the audio vibe for hit television shows, movies and Grammy-nominated albums.

M a n ches t e r A r t s D is t r ic t

M A N C H E S T E R A RT S D I S TR I C T Dogtown Dance Theatre

Transform a former high school gymnasium into a beautiful haven for entertainment and instruction. Providing studio space for classes, creative development, and performance—from Zumba to Hula-Hooping and praise dance—Manchester’s Dogtown Dance Theatre is home to The Ground Zero Dance Company, a modern dance and performance art troupe that incorporates aerial work. According to Artistic Director Rob Petres, Dogtown also imports talent from around the nation and beyond, “To fill out the performance art scene in Richmond.” www.dogtowndancetheatre.com

Promote business and celebrate diversity through a reality TV show. CRT/tanaka, LLC

Located in the old Spaghetti Warehouse building in historic Manchester, CRT/ tanaka is one of the country’s leading independent PR and marketing firms. Through the course of its 15-year history, CRT/tanaka has managed PR activities for Sprint/Nextel’s title sponsorship of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series; coordinated and promoted the yearlong national celebration for the U.S. Centennial of Flight, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers’ historic first flight; and worked with Air New Zealand to promote the first gay-themed “Pink Flight” in North America, which included an entire episode of BRAVO’s Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List [ photo left ] devoted to the flight. Current clients include Barnes & Noble College, BISSELL Homecare, Charles Schwab & Company, Girl Scouts of the USA and Wines from Rioja (Spain). www.crt-tanaka.com

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3 North and Corrugated box building

www.3north.com

ConcernTrak

Tumblr.com

Devise a network to trace the origin of packaged-food ingredients.

Tracing an apple back to the orchard is easy, but what if that apple is one of many ingredients of a product—like inside a granola bar? Founded by two food safety activists and new graduates of the VCU ISY program, ConcernTrak is a food safety network that gives the food industry an easy way to pinpoint ingredients and stay alert to food-borne illness outbreaks.

Make microblogging so easy that it attracts over 3 million users.

Tumblr lets you effortlessly share anything. Post text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos, from your browser, phone, desktop, email, or wherever you happen to be.

ConcernTrak.com

Tumblr.com

Mobelux

Launch mobile apps that extend the value of existing brands.

When Tumblr acquires your first iPhone app, you know you’re on to something. Mobelux, hatched in 2008 by Garrett Ross and Jeff Rock, created Tumblrette, which was acquired in 2009 by Tumblr and re-released as the ever-so-popular Tumblr for iPhone. Toss in projects for iHome and other high-profile clientele since, and you have the makings for a homegrown RVA success story that we’ve all likely bragged about in the past year. mobelux.com

PLANT ZERO/THE SHOP Create creative spaces for a creative community.

Formerly the Solvent Space located in the Plant Zero complex of apartments, art studios and Art Works gallery, The Shop is the name for the building and physical location of a multi-purpose facility that houses diverse community programs. The Shop is a performance gallery/venue, and art gallery, a broadcast studio, and a recording studio. The Shop is home to SlamRichmond—Virginia’s longest running poetry slam and broadcast live every Saturday on www.slamrichmond.tv—artSpace Annex, an expansion gallery of artSpace (www. artspacegallery.org, www.artspacegallery. tv) and MadMonkie Studios, which produces and hosts an array of community programs and events. www.the-shop.tv

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Fulcrum Collaborations

Produce business intelligence as a utility.

Operating for less than two years, Fulcrum Collaborations—a business and technology consulting firm that utilizes cloud platforms—already boasts services to 10 Fortune 500 clients and is an official partner of Salesforce.com. A pioneering IT-as-a-Service business model, the firm converts technology investment from a capital expense to a recurring cost—like a utility. This long-term partnership enables Fulcrum to produce ongoing insightful, actionable business intelligence on-demand. fulcrumcollaborations.com

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M a n ches t e r A r t s D is t r ic t

Braid the elements of history, graphics, architecture, design, and technology into a center of innovation. The Corrugated Box Building is an industrial space transformed into a popular studio environment for a variety of innovative companies, including Tumblr, Mobelux and Concerntrak. The design of the space cultivates a cross-disciplinary approach showcasing some of RVA’s most creative minds. 3 NORTH developed the “Box” and their company has an interesting blend of architects, interior designers, and landscape architects who work their magic with in-house graphic designers, historians, writers, and artists. The firm’s impressive portfolio includes everything from stunning homes, business and nonprofit facilities like the American Civil War Center, Richmond Ballet and Greater Richmond ARCenter. A Richmond residence they designed was featured in the January 2012 issue of Architectural Digest.

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Afton Chemical Corporation

Up the effeciency in fuel and extend the productivity of machinery.

Afton Chemical’s Richmond-based Research & Development center helps make modern vehicles and machinery more efficient through innovative fuel and lubricant additives. Their solutions are among the most highly developed and widely used additives in the petroleum industry. They work with customers around the world through open and flexible collaboration to help improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and prolong engine and machinery life. Afton Chemical is part of the NewMarket Corporation (NYSE: NEU) family of companies. www.aftonchemical.com

R I V E R F R O NT / C A N A L MWV

Create product packaging with an emphasis on utility, safety and environmental sustainability.

MWV’s Richmond-based Center for Packaging Innovation develops real-world solutions to some big-time needs— from the store shelf to the kitchen pantry. It all starts with understanding the preferences of consumers who interact with packaging before they ever get to the product. MWV created Shellpak® packaging for prescription drugs to reduce medical errors by helping patients take their medications as prescribed. They invented Natralock® security packaging as a safe-to-open paperboard alternative to the pesky plastic clamshell [right photo]. And MWV developed their MWare® line of sustainable materials for food service products to reduce waste in landfills, including a coffee cup that goes right into the recycling bin or compost pile [left photo]. www.meadwestvaco.com

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Reimagine a river.

The James River flows through Downtown and for years has been known as a wonderful recreational river with Class II and IV rapids in an urban setting. More recently, Dominion and partners have reimagined the river as a backdrop to innovative community events—Dominion Riverrock that mixes athletic competitions and entertainment (www. dominionriverrock.com, with various partners) and RVA Fireworks on the James (with MWV). Both are perfect examples of community groups and corporations joining together creatively to promote Downtown. www.dom.com

Fashion new values and perspective from historical events. The Future of Richmond’s Past: Commemorating the 150th anniversaries of the Civil War and the end of American Slavery

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Dominion

Our nation will soon commemorate the 150th anniversaries of two of the major events in American history: the Civil War and the end of American slavery. These anniversaries offer Richmond a unique opportunity as well as a special responsibility. As the former capital of the Confederacy and as a center of the nation’s slave trade, our city can help Americans better understand our shared history. The Future of Richmond’s Past is a collaborative effort among leaders of Richmond’s historical societies, museums, commissions, cultural and tourism organizations, and educational institutions to frame the upcoming sesquicentennial years in which our city and the nation will commemorate the anniversaries of the Civil War and Emancipation. It sponsors public programs and special events and inclusive conversations to advance a better understanding of our city’s shared history. Dr. Edward L. Ayers, University of Richmond President and Christy Coleman, president of the American Civil War Center [above photo] are two of the leaders championing this initiative. www.futureofrichmondspast.org RVAcreates.com

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B r oad S t r ee t

B R OA D S TR E E T Black Iris Music

Unite indie bands with corporate brands and budding musicians with massive exposure.

Ghostprint Gallery & Ghostprint Gallery Tattoo

Put your own spin on the family business.

“Perhaps most surprising on our list is the city of Richmond, Va., which averages about 14.5 tattoo shops per 100,000 people— and that’s just within the city itself.” Such was msnbc.msn.com’s assessment of Richmond’s ranking third in the website’s “The top 10 most tattooed cities in America.” Fittingly housed within an art gallery, one notable parlor, Ghostprint Gallery Tattoo, stands out among others and Thea Duskin stands out among tattooists. Through a lengthy process of collaboration with her clients, this skilled portraitist and specialist in art reproduction creates the elaborate designs that merit her popularity among discriminating seekers of indelible body art. Geraldine Duskin, Thea’s mother who also curates the Ghostprint Gallery [top photo], has been a twentieth-century decorative and fine arts dealer for the past three decades.

Creating tunes for commercials, film, and television, Black Iris Music has contributed scores to advertising campaigns for such behemoths as Apple iPad, Audi and Toyota [ photo below ]. Recently, their label released singles from notable independent bands such as Guards and Oberhofer. “We stay very connected to our underground roots, and that helps us stay in touch with and even ahead of current music trends,” explains Creative Director Jonathan Fuller. www.blackiris.tv

www.ghostprinttattoo.com | ghostprintgallery.com

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B R OA D S TR E E T

ArtBusiness Richmond & THE Arts and Cultural District Develop the synergy between art and commerce. Recognizing that arts, culture and entertainment can be catalysts for economic development and revitalization, Mayor Dwight C. Jones initiated ArtBusiness Richmond—a program designed to transform under-utilized and distressed property into viable commercial and residential spaces. While accommodating new businesses and residents, the emphasis is also to continue to grow the arts and cultural vibe in Downtown. “The city’s arts and cultural organizations are among our greatest assets.

Arts and culture at every level are critical to the future of our city,” Jones said. Through ArtBusiness Richmond a city-wide loan fund of $2 million was made available to stimulate the revitalization of Richmond’s neighborhoods and promote permanent job creation for low and moderate income residents by helping to bridge the credit gap for independent real estate developers and smaller employers. At his State of the City Address, Mayor Dwight Jones announced

his intentions to create an Arts and Cultural District (ACD) in Downtown Richmond “The City’s arts and cultural organizations are among our greatest assets,” Mayor Jones stated regarding the proposed ACD. “Arts and culture at every level are critical to the future of our city.” The proposed arts and culture district will help promote the improvement of the city’s urban core by leveraging arts and culture for their maximum economic development and revitalization benefit.

Lift CareGiving

Compile an online comprehensive resource for family caregivers.

Candela Books + Gallery

Curate exhibits and publish complementary art editions.

Founded by photographer Gordon Stettinius, Candela Books+Gallery reccently opened on Broad Street in the Downtown Arts District. Candela Books is publishing fine art photography books and will be bringing nationally known photographic talent to Richmond to exhibit in their newly renovated gallery space. candelabooks.com

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After conducting countless interviews and researching generational trends, Katie Gilstrap and Ted Ukrop put together a plan to bring practical solutions, trusted services and helpful advice to those caring for aging parents or relatives. Gilstrap was struck by the overwhelming feeling of isolation reported by caregivers. “They felt they had nowhere to go,” explains Gilstrap, who left First Market Bank when it was bought by Union. “I felt that there was a real opportunity to build a resource that served this rapidly growing community with expert and actionable advice, trusted local service providers and helpful tools.” www.liftcaregiving.com

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A R O UN D T OWN N E A R R O C K E TT S L A N D I NG PoshTots

Evolve children’s fantasies into a line of lyrical accessories and furnishings. From princess palaces to cowboy corrals, PoshTots creates fanciful spaces where pint-sized dreamers can rest and play. Channeling the creative bounty of childhood imagination into world-class interior design, Andrea Edmunds and Pam O’Hallaron cater to the unique fancies of children the world over. “Celebrating its eleventh year,” Founder/CEO Edmunds explains, “PoshTots has grown into the ‘children’s room designer of choice’ for set decorators, interior designers and style-conscious parents in Hollywood and around the globe.” www.PoshTots.com

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JAC K S O N WA R D

C E NT E R C I TY Restore a Downtown corner to its former glory with a fresh take on New American cuisine and ageless style.

Rejuvenate an historic entertainment venue with meticulous renovation and contemporary music acts.

Jackson Ward’s historic theater, the Hippodrome, has undergone a renovation that is part of an innovative approach to redevelopment. Developer Ron Stallings packaged four buildings, including “The Hip,” into one mixed-use development with 28 apartments above, which allowed him to get financing in a challenging economy. The result is a stunning renovation of The Hip which is opened for concerts, meetings and events and the Taylor Mansion, which has a restaurant and Speakeasy on the first floor with apartments above. The Mansion-five26 “Southeastern Cuisine” Restaurant and The Speakeasy at The Mansion have opened and are serving up some savory food and sophisticated fun. www.thehippblog.blogspot.com

M O NR O E W A R D

Poised to open in April by cofounders Thomas Haas and Taylor Hasty, 525 at the Berry Burk will cater to a broad range of appetites and budgets while paying homage to the lively and elegant past of its site at Grace and 6th Streets. Haas explains, “We envision our restaurant as a meeting place that bridges the gap between ‘Old Richmond’ society and the newer ‘RVA’ movement that seeks to define the next chapter in Richmond’s storied history.”

525rva.com

Pasture

Pioneer the renaissance of a shopping district and set a standard for social consciousness in the dining industry.

Sound of Music Recording Studio

Embrace new technology while staying true to classic recording methods and good old-fashioned savvy.

“We know how to make records,” explains Miguel Urbiztondo of Sound of Music, whose high-quality work has drawn well-known artists from around the globe. Currently in production with DC solo artist Harris Face, with Alan Weatherhead as engineer, the studio anticipates upcoming showcases such as live recordings by the likes of Kaat and Daan, indie rock musicians from Holland. Of the studio’s recent relocation to its beautiful home on Foushee St., Urbiztondo says, “I’m personally inviting everybody to come see our new facility.” www.soundofmusicrva.com RVAcreates.com

With Chef Jason Alley behind the new eatery’s small plate Southern dishes, Pasture’s fare promises to please. But the nascent E. Grace St. venture is also a model of ecologically mindful business practice. Taking great care to serve Fair Trade Certified organic sodas and to order from vendors within a limited shipping area, Pasture also reduces packaging waste by eliminating bottles and cans (with the exception of wine) and serving only draft beer at its lovely bar fashioned from reclaimed wood. “We’re trying to function as green as possible,” Alley explains. The restaurant location is the first project funded by Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ ArtBusiness Richmond initiative. The revitalized retail space, that formerly housed the Montaldo’s women’s clothing store, is part of a $1.5 million adaptive historic tax credit rehabilitation project. pasturerva.com

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525 at the Berry Burk

The Hippodrome Theater & Taylor Mansion

V I RG I N I A C O M M O NW E A L T H UN I V E R S I TY

VCU’s multi-school COLLABORATION ing. Caskey, along with a group of students and other volunteer faculty, provided the girls with a comfortable and stylish selection of dresses as they awaited their separation surgery. The girls also received bumble bee Halloween costumes they wore for a party at the World Pediatric Project. Another effort was a plaster body casting mold created by Morgan Yacoe, a senior in VCU’s Department of Sculpture. Yacoe and VCU Sculpture graduate Kristi South collaborated with Rhodes to develop an accurate mold of the twins

A team of Virginia Commonwealth University pediatric surgeons made headlines this past November with the successful separation of the 19-month-old conjoined twins Maria and Teresa Tapia of the Dominican Repub-

Solve a multifaceted challenge through multiple perspectives, skill sets and disciplines. lic. The first surgery of its kind at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, the 20-hour procedure was led by David Lanning, M.D., Ph.D.—associate professor in the VCU Department of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief—along with an additional 45 physicians and pediatric subspecialists who volunteered their time. As amazing as the operation was, it was only part of the story.

that assisted plastic surgeons in determining the best way to cosmetically care for them after separation.

In the months leading to the surgery, several schools in VCU rallied to support the twins transition. This included a dress-making workshop led by Kristin Caskey, associate professor and interim assistant chair of VCU’s Department of Fashion Design and Merchandis-

“It’s made me very proud to be part of this organization to see everybody rise to the occasion and deliver the care with such a high level of expertise and in a compassionate way,” said Lanning.

In addition, Audrey Kane, a VCU occupational therapist and certified car seat technician, designed a special car seat large enough to accommodate the twins for comfortable vehicle travel. As a result, the twins did not need to depend on ambulance transportation and could even safely take part in other activities such as play dates and a visit to a garden.

www.vcu.edu

CreateAthon on Campus

Combine brainstorming and mentoring to build portfolios and nonprofits.

A 24-hour, work-around-the-clock creative blitz during which student teams provide non-profit marketing services on a pro bono basis, Createathon On Campus launched in 2007. Since then, 264 volunteers have served 46 nonprofits—delivering projects valued at over $700,000—all to help organizations meet their missions. Students can be involved at a variety of levels. Team leaders enroll in a semester-long spring course where they learn account management, leadership skills, strategic and project development, all while serving one nonprofit client. Team members commit to the 24-hour creative blitz held during spring break. Local professionals and faculty mentor the participants to develop and produce a wide range of work with inspiring and fulfilling results for both the community and the students. createathononcampus.org

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The Inger & Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences

Build a stone-age home for a prehistoric species along the James River. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rice Center joined with community and corporate partners to embark on a landmark project to restore the Atlantic sturgeon to the James River. If the project succeeds, it could be a bellwether signaling that the ecosystem of the James, and perhaps the entire Chesapeake Bay, is taking a turn for the better.   The ambitious effort began with piles of rocks. The rocks—more than 2,000 cubic yards of them donated by Goochland County-based Luck Stone Corp.— were dropped from a barge into the James River near Presquile National Wildlife Refuge in Chesterfield County to form a 300-foot-long artificial sturgeon reef, the first of its kind for the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the entire East Coast. It is hoped that the Atlantic sturgeon, a fabled prehistoric species of fish that has been sighted in the area, will spawn and deposit their eggs on the reef. Sturgeon merit an historic footnote in Virginia history, because they are credited with being a critical food source that helped the Jamestown colonists survive when there was little else to eat. The Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences is Virginia Commonwealth University’s field station devoted to a broad array of environmental research, teaching and public service. Located on 494 acres along the historic James River, midway between Richmond and Williamsburg, the Rice Center is rich in natural and cultural resources. The center has a variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats that provide many research and educational opportunities. www.vcu.edu/rice

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V i rg i n i a B i o Te c h n o l o gy R e s e a rc h Pa rk

UNOS

Develop a national data center for organ donations and a memorial to honor donors.

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the private, non-profit organization that manages the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal government. Launched on October 25, 1999, the UNOS online database, called UNettm system, contains data regarding every organ donation and transplant event occurring in the United States since 1986. UNOS headquarters at BioTech features the National Donor Memorial, which honors America’s organ and tissue donors [photo].

www.unos.org

Venebio

Gather a braintrust to determine the causes and trends of public health patterns by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive medicine.

Virginia Department of Forensic Science

Pioneer DNA technology to solve crimes.

In 1989, Virginia became the first state to use DNA evidence to win a capital-murder conviction. That same year, it also became the first to create a DNA databank for testing felons. Located in BioTech Two, the department has access to nearly 1,200,000 fingerprint cards and to a database with more than 34,000 unsolved latent prints [photo below].

Venebio integrates the expertise of a global network of scientists in a broad range of biomedical fields and uses strategic collaboration and comprehensive project management to deliver start-tofinish problem solving in epidemiology, biomarker discovery, development, and validation as well as clinical trials. Venebio recently completed a study for the Healthcare Division of MeadWestvaco Corporation (MWV) to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of MWV’s Shellpak® brand reminder packaging in improving longterm medication adherence. Venebio designed and conducted

www.dfs.virginia.gov

a retrospective analysis of anonymized prescription dispensing data for more than 3 million adult Walmart pharmacy patients. The results of the study were compelling: use of calendar blister packaging alone, unaccompanied by any instructions to patients or pharmacists about how to use it or its purpose, was associated with significant improvement in both refill adherence and persistence compared with loose pills in vials. www.venebio.com

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HDL

Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced the expansion of Health Diagnostics Laboratory, Inc. (HDL) in the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park. In just two years, the company has grown to more than 300 employees, and now has a major expansion planned. “This $68.5 million capital investment and 653 net new jobs will bring HDL’s employment to over 950 employees and makes HDL a major employer in the City of Richmond,” said Mayor Jones [shown in photo with Tonya Mallory, B.S., M.S. HDL President, CEO and Co-Founder ]. “This is a great example of the importance of cultivating our existing business base, and we are proud that HDL has chosen the City of Richmond to expand and grow their business.” HDL, a CAP accredited leader in health management, offers a comprehensive test menu of risk factors and biomarkers for cardiovascular and related diseases. As an added value, patients receive a personalized overview of their risk factors along with intensive counseling from expert Health Coaches at no additional cost, improving compliance and enhancing satisfaction. www.hdlabinc.com

Cupron

Access the restorative and antibacterial nature of copper to create health and beauty products.

Copper is an essential nutrient in the human body. It also effectively kills many species of bacteria, fungus, dust mites and viruses. It has been used for health, wellness, and antimicrobial purposes for thousands of years, dating back to the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Aztecs. Cupron’s Copper Oxide Technology can be embedded into textiles, polymers and other substrates to activate wellness and beauty products. In the medical arena researchers have also documented copper’s value in stimulating the production of hemoglobin (red blood cells), collagen and other key proteins that help stabilize skin layers and promote wound healing. In cosmetic applications copper improves the look and appearance of skin—thus the creation of copper-laced pillows and gloves and sleep masks to reduce the appearance of wrinkles from aging. Cupron’s socks were given to the Chilean miners on day 36 when they were trapped in the mines, playing a major role in protecting the miners’ feet and helping enhance their wellbeing. Also Cupron supplies anti-microbial socks to soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF became the first army in the world to order anti-microbial socks based on the innovative copper-based technology that, in addition to its anti-microbial activity, also has skin-enhancement qualities. www.cupron.com

RVAcreates.com

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[ Standing second from right ]: the administrator of the grant, Dr. George Flowers and students gather in front of an electric vehicle (Chevy Volt) that Dominion drove over that day for a class demonstration.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College

Anticipate innovation and train the transportation technicians of tomorrow.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College was recently awarded an $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for the development of new automotive courses focusing on Accident Avoidance Systems and Autonomous Controlled vehicles. Today’s vehicles have advanced safety features such as back-up cameras, self parking, and lane departure notification systems. Further advances are planned that will permit vehicles to operate autonomously with minimal input from the driver. As these new systems are incorporated into vehicles, the automotive industry must deal with developing and maintaining qualified technicians. The grant will allow JSRCC to maintain its position of providing leading edge automotive education to its students. As manufacturers rapidly move toward new and advanced electronic systems, JSRCC will be able to provide highly qualified graduates for these emerging technologies. reynolds.edu

Bike Sharrows

Apply street art that guides motorists and bicyclists through shared streets and avenues.

Adding to RVA’s growing reputation as a mecca for bicycle enthusiasts, in November the City of Richmond began installing the first of approximately 80 lane miles of bike sharrows that will be placed along specific corridors in the city. The pilot corridors include Meadow Street from Broad Street to Cary Street and Harrison Street from Broad Street to Idlewood, representing about three miles of bike sharrows thus far. Sharrows are shared lane markings that are utilized to improve bicycling conditions on roads where designated bike lanes are either infeasible or inappropriate due to traffic conditions. This simple, yet visible way of improving conditions for bicyclists also reinforces safe and appropriate bicycling habits, which in turn make bicyclists more predictable in mixed traffic conditions.

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TR A N S P O RT A T I O N I NN OVA T I O N

Provide a personalized method of diagnosing disease— as well as create 650 new jobs for the region.

A r chi t ec t u r al E x celle n ce

Dovetail Construction Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new headquarters is the first building in the US that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is certified LEED Platinum and net zero energy.

Architectural Excellence

Building on our architectural legacy. Some of the most creative and innovative spaces Downtown are the adaptive re-use of some of RVAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s architectural gems. The historic rehabilitation of so many of the old buildings Downtown has created a unique, authentic sense of place. Here are some examples of those transformations: [ Clockwise from top left ] Dovetail Construction Company Headquarters, designed by Walter Parks Architects. The Commons at Plant Zero, designed by SMBW. American Civil War Center, designed by 3 North. The Hippodrome Theater and Taylor Mansion, designed by BAM Architecture. Miller & Rhoads building designed by Commonwealth Architects ( photo credit: Lee Brauer ). The Power Plant at Lucky Strike, a joint venture development by Macfarlane Partners, Property Results and Odell Associates. Canal Crossing, designed by Baskervill.

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