How Assembly Is Keeping Local Talent in Hampton Roads, VA

Yuzhu Zheng

Home to the Norfolk Innovation Corridor, Hampton Roads has become a thriving region that supports the growth of creativity, technology and entrepreneurship. As more companies seek a home here, unique ventures like Assembly – a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship founded by Drew Ungvarsky – point to the wealth of talent that already exists in the area.

Under One Roof

At Assembly, what was once a historic department store building in downtown Norfolk is now a multiuse campus that unites a wide range of companies, creatives and entrepreneurs. A central staircase connects all floors of the modernized building, fostering the atmosphere of connection and collaboration that Ungvarsky initially envisioned for the space.

“We’re trying to make Assembly really serve as a center of gravity and a vehicle for growing the creative and innovation communities here in Hampton Roads,” says Ungvarsky, Co-founder and CEO of Assembly.

Assembly grew out of Ungvarsky’s first venture, Grow, a digital experience agency that has worked with major brands around the world.

Yuzhu Zheng

Ungvarsky founded Grow 20 years ago shortly after graduating from Old Dominion University and was soon introduced to the community of creatives in Hampton Roads through his work. Ungvarsky saw the need for a space where local artists and entrepreneurs could come together, share resources and be recognized by the region they called home.

“We wanted to make the creative community a lot more visible,” Ungvarsky says.

Today, Assembly brings together some of the region’s most innovative companies under one roof. From photography and videography to architecture, advertising and technology-driven companies, a wide network of creatives call the space home, sharing resources, amenities and ideas.

757 Collab’s Startup Studios, which also inhabits the building, is a launching pad for startups and offers mentorship for early-stage entrepreneurs.

“The most essential thing for entrepreneurs is to get connected into that community of other entrepreneurs and business leaders,” Ungvarsky says. “That’s where we see so much value in a community like Assembly.”

Growing Local Talent

For Brenner Vasquez, Assembly was the perfect place to fulfill a long-held dream of opening his own studio. While building a career in video production in Norfolk, Vasquez imagined a space where business owners, marketing executives and freelancers could collaborate and create content. Assembly turned out to be the ideal space for his vision.

“It was always one of those lofty dreams to open a studio,” Vasquez says. “I never thought it would happen so soon.”

Yuzhu Zheng

Since opening in July 2025, Scend Studio has welcomed worldwide brands as well as local business owners and freelancers to use its space, which is equipped for everything from professional portraits to multicam podcasting. Members of Assembly enjoy shared complimentary hours each month
that allow them to take advantage of everything Scend has to offer.

Vasquez hopes to continue cultivating an atmosphere of creativity and collaboration in Norfolk by offering mentorship and workshops in video production
at Scend, helping to grow an existing talent base. As people graduate from top universities in the area, there are more reasons than ever for them to choose to make a life in the Hampton Roads region.

“I think with a lot of the innovation and businesses starting to pop up, Norfolk is starting to become more of an attractive place where people can thrive and not have to leave the area,” Vasquez says.

Live and Work

After five years in operation, Assembly continues to grow and expand. Ungvarsky envisions even more amenities that will allow members the space to live and work in a community that appeals to creatives of all kinds, offering varying levels of membership to fit the needs of locals.

As a flagship of the region’s history and culture, Norfolk offers an exceptional quality of life for ambitious professionals.

“There are really incredible people, really incredible companies doing amazing things here,” Ungvarsky says. “Once you get exposed to that, it’s exciting to be part of that community and to feel like you’re going places with other great people.”