Facebook is using a novel design approach for the redevelopment of an office park to become their new world headquarters.

The cleared area. (Pic | Edward Lazaron)

(First,you gotta read about it here. It’s seriously really neat.)

The company invited 140 architects, designers, and planners to a one-day design charrette to address ways to connect their isolated campus to the surrounding community. Grouped into six teams, they worked together and produced a wide array of creative solutions worthy of further consideration.

Proposals included space-age looking elevated walks bridging roads and wetlands to connect buildings and neighboring properties. Improving access to alternate transportation, encouraging development of retail and support services on neighboring properties, and tying it back into the surrounding communities all demonstrate the breadth of vision that occurs in brain storming sessions like this.

I thought, “what a great way to step outside the box and really explore a lot of good ideas in a short time.” Then it occurred to me that if the Jacoby Group, redevelopers of the local Ford Plant, the city, and the local community came together in this type of creative throw-down, it might stimulate some really interesting and unforeseen solutions to that site.

Main entry gate. (Pic | Edward Lazaron)

The property is cut off from surrounding development by Indian River Road and Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line railroad tracks. It also has water access on two sides. As it is converted to a mixed use complex, the need to connect to neighborhoods, businesses, offices, stores, and recreation areas can all be accommodated in new and interesting ways that will bind together a much larger section of the city. Billed as a sustainable development to attract environmentally responsible tenants, this is surely a worthy goal.

Last week Jacoby announced that it had sold the assembly building and a plot of land for industrial use. Redevelopment of the rest will commence soon. It would be an exciting community opportunity if they would invite Hampton Roads architects, planners, designers, visionaries, and an interested public to a one-day event focused on exploring innovative ideas to enhance the property and build stronger ties to what is already one of the most important projects in Norfolk today.

Specific groups who might be invited include Hampton Roads Chapter/ American Institute of Architects. They would seem to be a natural choice to help organize this. I would invite Landscape Architects, Urban Planners, Civil Engineers and Transportation Specialists. Also near by Civic Leagues, environmental groups and City representatives from Norfolk and Chesapeake (the property is on the Norfolk side of the dividing line). Students from local colleges and universities might participate as well.

Using all the talent we have around here, the space could be something truly great.

Mr. Jacoby, please take a cue from the Facebook experience and challenge your new friends and neighbors to bring forth their creativity and spirit to expand your vision.