You did it, you boosted us into the Best of the Valley – Top 5!! Voting has opened now to determine the Best of the Valley and two runners-up. Voting is open from June 25 – July 2 and you can vote daily to show us your support and help our chances. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to help our team.
Gaines Group Architects are included in three different categories:
The best home improvements start with a good plan, so a vote for us here is a vote for planning. We have saved clients countless dollars by designing the right solution, that is efficient to build rather than just guessing at the solution and figuring it out as the project unfolds. We also try to provide valuable information through our blog (here, here, here) so that even those that don’t hire us have the right information before starting their home improvement projects. We humbly ask for your vote in this category.
While many of you have not worked for us, you probably have seen how much fun we have working. We love what we do and have fun doing it. While there are 5 very deserving companies in this category we ask for your vote. There are 12 of use at Gaines Group Architects between the two offices with over 200 years of combined experience and an average tenure of over 15 years. We celebrate each other and try to find special ways to build our team while building our community (here, here, here). We humbly ask you to vote for us as the best company to work for each day through July 2.
There are 5 great gallery options included in this category, but we are in the coolest building. Since this nomination is for the best gallery, I think the choice is clear, vote for the gallery that is on the National Historic Register. Vote for the gallery that includes a display celebrating the history of the Chesapeake Western Railroad and brings life to this 1913 building that we almost lost. Vote for the gallery that has the best food and drink each first Friday of the month supporting a local artist and helping to build a better community. Vote The Depot for Best Gallery Space.
As we continue to see costs increase for construction it becomes even more important to follow proper protocol during construction. On a recent visit to a job site, I was thrilled to see taped ducts during construction protecting my client’s investment. If the ductwork is left open on the floor and walls then drywall dust and construction debris will fill those ducts, even if the system is not turned on. Then once the HVAC system is turned on dust and dirt will go through the mechanical system and hurt the durability and possibly destroy the brand-new HVAC system.
Seeing the ducts taken care of during construction speaks highly of the HVAC company and contractor and shows they not only understand the installation standards but care about the client. This simple practice does not take much time, but it is often not done. As we continue to see the cost of construction increase, it becomes even more important to protect the systems being installed. So remember: taped ducts during construction protect your investment.
Architect, family man, explorer, and coach; all of these are hats worn by Gaines Group team member Paul Tassell. Paul began his career at the Gaines Group in 2002 and we are excited to share more about him and his journey below.
Paul grew up in Albemarle County where from a young age, he was drawn to the arts. He remembers spending much of his time sketching and drawing which snowballed into an interest in architecture. Following this interest, he attended Virginia Tech to study architecture and design. Through his studies, he enjoyed being exposed to architecture from both the artistic and the building science side. During his 4th year, he had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Europe with the architecture department visiting 9 countries over 4 months. These travels greatly influenced his appreciation of architecture and its global influences.
After graduation, Paul moved to Charlottesville to be close to his family and began his career with the Gaines Group. His talent was quickly recognized, and he continued to grow within the firm and eventually achieved his architectural license in 2016. As he reflects on his 20+ year tenure thus far at the Gaines Group, he most appreciates working at a small firm that allows him to work on every part of a project. He especially enjoys producing conceptual renderings at the beginning of a project and figuring out the many building details.
Paul has been an integral part of countless projects but says his favorite was designing an addition to his daughter’s preschool which is housed in a historical building in Charlottesville. He also enjoyed working on the Minor-Nelson House addition which turned into an investigation to recreate a historically accurate front porch and detailing.
Outside of being an architect at the Gaines Group, Paul spends much of his time with his wife Linde and two daughters, Ainsley (9) and Mabyn (6). They are an adventurous family with a history of being involved in both Boys and Girls Scouts. Their love for the outdoors has taken them on many trips to Virginia State Parks, Yellowstone National Park, and even a visit abroad to France. A soccer player himself, you can also find Paul on the sidelines coaching different teams. “Coach Tassell” has been working with different skill levels since 2006 and has recently been able to coach both of his daughters.
We are grateful for the string of modern home designs we have been trusted to work on over the years and now the modern house on the mountain is taking shape. Surrounded by a stunning backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this modern home takes advantage of the magnificent views and is designed for family living. In addition to the modern aesthetic, the homeowner plans to build a few custom details (not in place yet, but we are excited to share these later.) Some of the other modern homes we designed can be found here, here, here, and here.
Charles recently visited the site on a foggy day as the foundation went in. It was great to see the closed-cell foam vapor barrier installed below the basement slab. This will keep the basement efficient and comfortable once construction is finished.
The framing is well underway and the form of the house is starting to take shape. This home along with the next-door home we designed, has spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The design of the home frames the views while providing distinct spaces for the life these clients want to live in this place. Many of the design elements are centered around spending time together as a family, enjoying their hobbies, and appreciating the surrounding landscape.
The clients have specific uses planned for this detached garage that will enable them to thrive in this space.
Amongst the many activities that will take place in this room, the clients will be able to soak in these beautiful vistas.
Of course, this room feels like you are floating in the trees, can you imagine sitting here and reading as the sun sets?
The vaulted ceilings with exposed beams offer warmth and bounce the light deep into the space.
As the house continues to take shape, we love how it fits on the site and captures the views.
Service to my community is my why. It has shaped our business mission statement and it drives my decisions. How can I do the most good for others often allows me to decide what committee to give time to and what non-profit to support. The one organization that does it better than any other, the one that allows me to serve your community and mine and serve those around the world, is Rotary International. So I want to invite you to come to learn more about Rotary on June 7th from 5 pm – 7 pm at Beyond Restaurant.
Service to your community, with Rotary, starts with weekly meetings to build deep friendships while learning more about the community. Each week we have speakers join us to talk about a topic, often are area non-profit, that is also doing good. These weekly meetings are important to build the community among members so when it comes time to do a service project, such as hosting the Harrisonburg Soap Box Derby, we join together not just as Rotarians, but as friends.
I am proud to be a Rotarian and would be proud to invite you to our meeting to learn more. If our weekly Tuesday morning breakfast club is not the right fit for your schedule there are other incredible groups. We often join forces in the valley and team up with other Rotary Clubs to have an even bigger impact.
Our club has helped support some amazing efforts across the valley and around the world. From the Harrisonburg Soap Box Derby to PurMadi to supporting First Step to picking up trash along Rt 42, we work hard together to do good.
