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some Sneak Peek Tours Will Be Led by Virginia’s Former First Lady, Pam Northam!
Join us for a tour of this remarkable new facility and an eye-opening exploration of how sea level rise will affect us all. Check out cutting edge green building practices and systems – floating docks, green roofs, solar arrays, rainwater capture, and much more. See sustainability best practices in action and learn about the “planned retreat” that will allow the river to retake the site as sea levels continue to rise.
Building and site designs incorporate elevated structures, floating docks, and on-site energy production through solar arrays and battery backups with a goal of net zero energy use.
Living shorelines, rain gardens, pervious paving and green roofs to reduce stormwater runoff, rain barrels and cisterns to collect rainwater, and “gray-water” re-use in the building are all on display.
Designed for energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint, from recycled material usage to solar panels to high-efficiency lighting, including “sunlight harvesting” strategies.
Signage, displays and ERP staff educate visitors on resilience features and strategies while art exhibits inspire and public parks and green spaces offer new ways to experience the Elizabeth River.
With sea level rise projected to overtake the facility in 30-50 years, it’s built to be progressively preserved before ultimately succumbing to the river – an groundbreaking model for homeowners and developers.
Join us for the celebration of the student art exhibition in response to the inaugural “all water has a perfect memory” exhibition at the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab.
“You know, they straightened out the Mississippi River in places, to make room for houses and livable acreage. Occasionally the river floods these places. ‘Floods’ is the word they use, but in fact it is not flooding; it is remembering… All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was.” – Toni Morrison
“𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆” | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁
The theme, taken from a Toni Morrison passage, reflects on ways that the waters of the Elizabeth River have changed, and will change over the centuries. The exhibit aims to explore the poetics of the river’s return and the resilience of communities in its path.
This exhibition presents work from students at Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, and Virginia Wesleyan University.
May 3 @ 6:30 am - 7:30 amGreet each first Friday of the month from the River Room at the Ryan Lab, with a sweeping view of the sunrise over Knitting Mill Creek. This is an intentionally inclusive, all-levels-welcome yoga class – come as you are! Instruction generously donated by Ashley Gudknecht of GUD Yoga.
May 11 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pmCurious about solar? Wondering if you can afford it for your house? Want to understand the myths and misinformation you have heard about solar? Come to this solar workshop led
June 1 @ 9:00 am - 10:30 amJune 1 | 9am-10:30am Each year, on the first Saturday of June, thousands of Virginians simultaneously descend on the rivers, streams, beaches, and inland parks of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
June 7 @ 6:30 am - 7:30 amGreet each first Friday of the month from the River Room at the Ryan Lab, with a sweeping view of the sunrise over Knitting Mill Creek. This is an intentionally inclusive, all-levels-welcome yoga class – come as you are! Instruction generously donated by Ashley Gudknecht of GUD Yoga.
June 20 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pmOur goal is to build a grassroots team of community scientists and local stewards in the Elizabeth’s watershed who study river otters. The purpose of Otter Spotter is to give everyone the chance to contribute
This special new program fosters intergenerational mentorship and ladders to success for BIPOC youth in the environmental sciences. Join us to participate in activities guided by experts, like learning how to take water quality samples, measure pollutants, interpret data, and more!
Programming made possible by
“Developing on-land solutions to rising tides and rising sea level is not just a case of trying to make it more inhabitable for human beings. It’s also a case of making the land more friendly to the river.”
The Pru & Louis Ryan Resilience Lab, which now cuts a striking figure along Colley Avenue, is offering tours to the public to show off the ways the building itself is an example of preserving waterways and structures as sea levels continue to rise.
Tuesday, folks with the Elizabeth River Project, Wetlands Watch and Coastal Virginia Conservancy marked a milestone for conservationists. The groups met at the Ryan Resilience Lab to sign a rolling easement, a legal agreement, they said is the first of its kind in the nation.
As waters rise, the shoreline will slowly retreat inward.
On Thursday night, a Norfolk composer debuted a symphony designed to imagine the sounds of that progression.
The Ryan Resilience Lab is a new facility in Norfolk that explores how rising sea levels will affect us all.
Elizabeth River Project marked the latest progress in the building of its Ryan Resilience Laboratory Friday with a “topping out” ceremony. The complex will serve as a research, education and outreach center dedicated to the environment.
