Norfolk's Ryan Resilience Lab gains national attention
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – A trailblazing project along North Colley Avenue in Norfolk is getting national attention.
The Ryan Resilience Lab at the Elizabeth River Project was created as a model for urban habitat restoration and serves as a tangible example of how coastal residents and businesses can respond to sea level rise. It opened last summer.
Work Program Architects (WPA) designed the $8-million privately-funded building.
Back in September, WPA posted to social media that a TODAY show crew with Vicky Nguyen was in Norfolk. But they didn't say why at the time.
The Elizabeth River Project broke the details Thursday that they would be on the NBC Today Show Friday morning with architects from WPA.
Friday morning, the special report aired on TODAY. You can watch the full report in the video player at the top of this page.
Nguyen interviewed several members of the Elizabeth River Project involved in the Ryan Resilience Lab project, and the architects. They highlighted some of the building's unique features, such as the permeable outdoor pavers, which allow rain to drain and helps keep pollution out of the river. The building has carpet made from recycled fishing nets, triple pane windows and even a living roof.
Elizabeth River Project to open $8M Ryan Resilience Lab in Norfolk
The overall goal of these and many other features at the unique Norfolk structure is to impact the environment by hopefully encouraging the community to incorporate some of the same strategies and techniques in their homes and businesses.
The report featured ways to protect your home from flooding:
Clear gutters and drains
Keep sandbags & plastic sheeting handy
Elevate electric panels & outlets
At this year's Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate award presentation earlier this month, the Juror's Choice Award went to the Elizabeth River Project and Ryan Resilience Lab submitted by Work Program Architects. The project also received an Excellence Award for Best Sustainable Project.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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