Brittany Baer Albert is the Development and Operations Manager at Venture Realty Group, where she oversees the execution and coordination of large-scale projects like Virginia Beach’s Atlantic Park. She plays a key role in managing partnerships, guiding development details, and ensuring the project vision is maintained. We spoke with Brittany to find out why this project, so long on our Wave Pool Map, succeeded. What did Venture Realty Group do right?
How is Venture Realty Group connected to Atlantic Park Surf and the larger project?
Venture Realty Group is the developer of both Atlantic Park Surf and the wider Atlantic Park.
The project is pretty huge. How big is it?
It is about ten and a half acres.
And I know it was going on for a really long time.
Yes. It has been a long process. We began this process about ten years ago with an RFP process through the City of Virginia Beach. As you can see, here we are in the final stages of getting just about everything opened up.
Through moving something like that, your realty group, how many people work for that? You must be huge and have other projects elsewhere. Or did you just start up to do this?
We are actually a fairly small team at Venture, fewer than twenty people. This project was a collaboration of far more than just Venture. Venture was the developer, but we had numerous architects, construction partners, and a vast team working on the project.
That’s amazing for ten acres. In this process, you had to work with the city a lot. How was that? Do you think being a small company helps you react more and work more closely with the city?
I think it is important to note that our team is comprised of locals, primarily people born and raised here. The passion behind the project and the level of care put into this place is because it is our home. That was important when working with the city. It allowed them to understand that we are from here and care about this place. The project itself is a public-private partnership. The city owns the entertainment venue and the two parking garages embedded in the buildings. So, it is a continuing partnership.
What makes this project special?
The attention to detail. Many developers would not focus on the small things, but that is what makes this project unique.
When did Pharrell Williams come on with the project?
He came on board in the beginning. There were a few ideas being thrown around in the early stages. The technology was configured a little differently at the time, but the overall concept was the same. We wanted to bring surf, retail, and apartments, and create something transformative for Virginia Beach. It was not until we created a video that detailed what we wanted to do. He was sent that video and wanted to be involved.
I remember that video. He narrated it and talked about The Dome.
Yes. It was a great video. The sentiment in all of our videos from the very beginning remains the same. It is cool to go back and look at them.
The wave pool was the first thing to open, right? Was that a conscious decision?
It was not. The entertainment venue opened first. The Dome opened a few months before surf. It was a function of the construction process. We had unforeseen delays that were out of our control. The original idea was for everything to come online at the same time, but we ended up opening in phases.
Can you run me through exactly what you have here? Apartments, parking garages, wave pools.
We have two mixed-use buildings. Everything from the second floor up is apartments, totaling 309 units. They are for rent. There are two parking garages, one in each building. One has about a thousand spaces and the other about four hundred spaces. At ground level, we have about 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Tenants include Faherty, Lululemon, Johnnie-O, Mi Vida, Milk & Honey, Nami Nori, Only at Renee’s, Playa Bowls, Press Club on Pacific, Quiet Storm Surf Shop, Sandbox VR, The Grill, The Hampton Social, The Sweet Spot, Wiseguy Pizza, and Wave Riding Vehicles. The Dome is located at the corner of Arctic Ave. and 20th St. On certain show days, the large hangar doors open up for an indoor/outdoor concert. Arctic is closed and there is an outdoor amphitheater area that can hold an additional 1,500 patrons in addition to the indoor capacity of 3,500. Finally, The Sitio, a 20-room boutique hotel, is located on 18th St. directly adjacent to Atlantic Park Surf, which is the centerpiece of the entire development.
What are you most proud of? What did your company do that maybe a larger company could not?
We are most proud of the care that went into every detail. With a larger development, you may not get that same level of care. We had owners involved in minute details, things most people would not notice. We are also proud of transforming what was previously surface parking lots and a grassy area into something special that elevates this part of the oceanfront.
You may not find this relevant, but I think you brought the culture of Virginia Beach into it.
We always wanted this to stay authentically Virginia Beach. It was a community-driven effort. We worked with the ViBe District and wanted to complement it, not compete with it. We stayed true to that idea from the beginning.
A lot of developments scaled down after COVID, but this is top shelf. How did that happen?
No one involved in the partnership ever wanted to compromise the initial concept and vision. It was worth the wait. Even with delays and obstacles, the team was not going to be deterred from executing what was promised. There was never a moment where anyone gave up on that vision. We had to pivot and change occasionally, but we worked through everything and executed without compromising quality.
Let’s go back to the culture. Can you explain what The Dome means to the area?
The Dome was an iconic place that hosted many major artists. It was torn down in the 1990s. Part of the vision for Atlantic Park was to bring music back to the beach. The Dome is an integral part of this project. The center amphitheater design symbolizes the original Dome’s geodesic shape, paying homage architecturally.
Can you explain the ViBe District and how you integrated it?
The ViBe District started more than ten years ago as a grassroots art movement that transformed a rundown area into a vibrant creative hub. We wanted to complement the destination and continue that creativity and authenticity.
And the surf component?
The surf component is important because we have a large surf community here in Virginia Beach but not consistent waves. This allows that community to have waves anytime, which people are excited about.
What were the most challenging parts of the project? Was there ever a moment you thought it would not work?
There were many challenges. Construction prices skyrocketed after COVID. We also faced environmental issues with the lagoon construction, which caused delays and ripple effects.
Are there any design details you are particularly proud of?
The hangar doors at The Dome are a nod to the city’s naval aviation history and have perforated metal panels that one of our architects designed to match the sound bars of Pharrell’s song “Grindin.” At night they light up. There are many small design details like that throughout, and the care that went into those small details are sources of pride for our team.
What has been the best moment for you?
There was a moment when an event was happening at the lagoon while a concert was going on at The Dome. Seeing that synergy in person at night with the lights on made us realize that this was the vision coming to life.
Tell me about the woodwork in the lobby of The Sitio.
A local company, Benevolent Design Co., took trees from the site, milled them, and created furniture like the reception desk, benches, and tables found throughout the hotel.
Why go that extra step?
Because of the passion and care for details. We wanted everything to be special.
