After more than 20 years leasing space in Virginia Beach for its brain injury program, Eggleston now has its own building in Norfolk to house operations.
Its new facility at 5145 E. Virginia Beach Blvd. will also contain its Warrior Bridge program and will serve as Eggleston’s new headquarters.
The organization learned in January 2020 — just before the pandemic struck — that the property at 3808C Virginia Beach Blvd. where its brain injury services program operated had been sold and rezoned for new development.
“It was kind of the perfect storm,” said Danielle Cronin-Nance, Eggleston’s director of development. “We were notified the landlord was to sell the property and we had already identified the need to find additional office space.”
Eggleston’s CEO Paul Atkinson Sr. said in a news release that the organization needed to act quickly and saw an opportunity to expand and enhance its Brain Injury Services and Warrior Bridge programs.
The nonprofit, now in its 66th year, supports and empowers individuals with disabilities through 16 programs and services.
Its Brain Injury Services program provides patients with specialized case management, intensive services and vocational rehabilitation to empower them to be part of the community.
The Warrior Bridge program helps veterans with disabilities by linking them with critical resources, support and employment.
The two programs serve close to 200 adults in Hampton Roads each year, and Eggleston helps about 1,000 individuals through its programs yearly.
Although the pandemic delayed the organization’s plans, in September it bought an 18,000-square-foot building formerly owned by the state and occupied by the Virginia Employment Commission.
The building was purchased for $1.5 million, and another $1.2 million went toward renovations. The move is planned for the end of May or beginning of June.
The expansion involved hiring two new employees: a development coordinator and an executive level position.
Cronin-Nance said it was all made possible through a capital campaign launched in February 2021, and the organization is thankful for the support of TowneBank, the Landmark Foundation, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and Eggleston’s board of directors.
The new building not only doubles the space and has better accessibility features, but it also sits on a bus line, which makes it more accessible to individuals with transportation barriers.
“The main activity room has a great big open space with new technology for virtual experiences for people who are not ready to return in person — and may not be for some time,” Cronin-Nance said. “People can participate and still feel like they’re in the clubhouse with their peers.”
A kitchen area with an improved layout includes a washer and dryer, and restrooms are larger and wheelchair accessible.
The second floor contains meeting spaces and offices for administration and support staff. Many of the staff, including finance, human resources and marketing and development, will relocate from the organization’s corporate office at 1161 Ingleside Road in Norfolk to the new facility.
The Ingleside office will continue to house its mission delivery team and one of the organization’s laundry facilities.
“Any one of us could need these types of services; we’re all a heartbeat or a stroke away,” Cronin-Nance said.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com
