Designing for good with Habitat for Humanity New River Valley

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 16, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Building Science, citizen architect, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality, Multifamily Design

One of our favorite repeat clients is Habitat for Humanity New River Valley. Our core goal as a business is to use design to create a better future for all. Partnering with this organization fits our mission perfectly. This project, the Airport Road Townhomes, are designed for energy-efficiency, durability, and healthy indoor air. Those are our standards for every project. The Habitat model grows home ownership which benefits communities by creating a stable housing stock, providing workforce housing, and building neighborhoods. Airport Acres in particular provides an ideal location for families in walking distance to schools, childcare centers, shopping, and public transit.

The two-story craftsman style townhomes will feature three bedrooms with a focus on accessibility and visitability. Four of the unit are adaptable for home owners with disabilities or mobility challenges with aging in place features. The community includes a central green space to help build community.

Habitat for Humanity of the NRV is doing amazing work that is building a stronger community. The dream of home ownership is out of reach for many and their work, their clients sweat equity, and the communities support is changing futures. We are proud to partner with them to achieve our goal of building a better future for all through design.

You can support the work of Habitat for Humanity of the NRV by making a donation of in-kind gifts, money, or you can even donate a car.

Serving our Roanoke Community

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 15, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, Commercial Architect, Empathy, Green Building, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect

Working in a variety of communities you find that there are teams that you collaborate well with and that support your business goals and allow you to support their business goals. Growing up in Roanoke, attending Northside, and then Virginia Western Community College, I have deep ties to the area. Once we started getting calls from potential clients in the New River Valley and Roanoke Valley area we knew it was time to open an office back in my hometown so we could serve the community. Our approach to business is a bit different from what I have seen over the years. If we are working in a community we want to invest in that community in ways that make it better. We don’t just want to do this on our project site for our clients, we want to make a bigger impact wherever we go. Our main goal as an architectural firm is to use design to create a better community for everyone.

This year for instance we were able to partner with AIA Blue Ridge on their Kidstruction 2026 event held at the Taubman Museum. This tied together our love of local arts, lego, and getting kids to flex their imagination while building things. What an incredible event and the smiles on their faces tell the story.

Our Roanoke office is almost a year old now. We have found some amazing opportunities so far to design cool projects, support organizations, and invest in our community in a way that can create a better future for everyone. We want to continue to grow that impact. Reach out to us if you are an engineer, interior designer, builder, or general contractor that loves working with a team that is excited about design and construction and want to build each other up. Talk to us if you are a non-profit that is doing good in the community and you need help with space planning, energy efficiency, or just have a cool fun event that you think we would love. Support our efforts if you also think that through design we can be and do better in this world – write an online 5 star review on google, Facebook, or any other platform that your friends visit. We need help growing. We need to know who we can collaborate with. If we all join together we can design a better community for everyone.

The Sanado, a luxury cabin in Shenandoah

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 14, 2026 | architecture, Commercial Architect, Custom Home, Harrisonburg Architect, Interior Design

Our client came to us with a clear goal, create a luxury 2 bedroom cabin that framed the amazing views and created a perfect weekend retreat in Shenandoah. This project was a lot of fun to design and Beck Builders did a great job executing the plan.

The Sanado in Shenandoah is a 2 bedroom 2 bath luxury cabin that our client is using as an air b&b investment property. The results of his vision is a welcoming cabin design that allows for relaxation and comfort. The vaulted wall of glass opens the compact plan up so the house feels huge. The added amenities give you a place to unwind and reconnect.

The design of this cabin was very intentional. We visited the site after schematic design phase was done, evaluated the views and angle to fit it perfectly into the landscape. We needed to capture the right view. Then we designed huge windows and a deck so you could enjoy this place with privacy.

The inside of the cabin is designed for absolute relaxation and comfort. The final furnishings pull the vision together, our client has amazing taste.

Should I stay or should I go?

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 13, 2026 | Accessibility, aging in place, architecture, Building Science, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect

LeeAnn and Phillip Maxwell are once again hosting a Should I stay or should I go? Seminar. This event features experts that can support seniors on topics including estate planning, aging in place, selling your home, and wealth management.

Why is this important for our community? Well, from experience, walking with dad over his last two years you need to know who to call when you need help. For instance, my go to expert on adapting existing conditions to make them safe for the specific need is Amy Depoy with The Pivot Point Group. Amy is an occupational therapist that understands how to evaluate mobility of a person and then can recommend the proper solutions. While I can help you redesign a space to make it easier to use for a lifetime, Amy knows the tools and resources to implement without major construction related changes to the structure of your home. She came to our house and spoke with dad, looked at what we had set up, and offered some additional resources that made it easier for him to move safely and for me to safely assist him.

VPAS (Valley Program for Aging Services) is another resource that you will find at the upcoming seminar. I have worked with VPAS for years helping spread the word about how to make a home more welcoming to people of all abilities. They also offer resources to help you know the paperwork you need, how to navigate Medicare services, can provide caregiver support, are working to educate our community about dementia, and organize meals on wheels. This organization is like a utility knife for our senior population. You will definitely want to know all the services they provide before you need them.

So join the seminar, register HERE. I will be at the event to answer questions about aging in place and architectural changes you can make in your home. There will be many other experts that are dedicated to helping seniors live long, safe, and happy lives in our community.

The event is free, includes lunch, will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Harrisonburg, September 17th, from 11:30 am – 2:00 pm. You have to register so they know how much food to provide.

Collaboration to deliver better service to our clients

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 12, 2026 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, Charlottesville, citizen architect, Commercial Architect, community, Custom Home, Empathy, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Local Leaders

This amazing event, Charlottesville Architect + Builder Exchange, is building a better industry.

Charlottesville Architect Builder Exchange

This past week Charles and Sam were invited to share how they collaborate outside of projects to deliver better projects to shared clients. Sam with Herr and Company and Charles have worked together on many projects over the years. They have a trusting relationship. It is not just based on the projects though, it is based on each of them showing up for the other consistently.

The story they shared is not a new way of doing business. It is simply treating each other with respect and working towards a common goal: excellent service to our community, integrity in the process, and a desire to do better for our clients. Once the video of the event is posted we will share it. We welcome your ideas of how we can improve more. We don’t have it all figured out and want to continue to grow and improve. Let us know how you deliver better service to your clients through collaboration, trust, and integrity.

Thanks to Jim at Candid and his team for allowing this conversation to happen.

If you have a community group or event that needs a speaker: Charles loves sharing his passion for community, building science, architecture, aging in place, the history of the Chesapeake Wester Depot, using empathy as a design tool, or if you just want him to tell stories – reach out and let’s get it scheduled.

Project Update: 865 East Interior Renovation

by Lindsey Kohler-Austin | Sep 3, 2026 | architecture, Commercial Architect, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Interior Design, Multifamily Design, project update

Blog by: Jarod Sankar
Interior Design: The Gaines Group Architects
Lobby Contractor: Legacy Building Co.
Game Room Contractor: Sustainable Solutions

If you’re from Harrisonburg, or have any association with JMU, you’ve probably encountered 865 East, the luxury student housing complex located right off I-81 on Port Republic Road. While the complex isn’t new to the area, it is under new ownership and has recently undergone a complete transformation.

The project began with a vision from the property managers. They knew that the building was in an incredible location, offered great amenities, and was well-loved by the community, and they wanted to capitalize on those things with a full facelift on both the apartments and the common areas. Adrienne and Jarod met with the property management team, asked lots of questions, took lots of photos, and looked at lots of inspiration images. Once the main programming and scope were determined, the interior design team got straight to work.

The first step of the project was capturing the right vibe for the proposed facelift. We wanted the space to feel fun and striking, yet inviting, clean, and home-like. For luxury student housing, it’s important to design with longevity and maintainability in mind, without creating a space that feels sterile. Giving the students a sense of home helps make the space feel unique but comfortably familiar. To start the process, we analyzed the information from our first initial meeting with Star and the Asset Living team and generated mood board images that would set the tone for the full renovation. After getting approval from the team to move forward, Jarod 3D-modeled the space and started working through the design for the renovated lobby, game room, and rooftop.

The lobby was the top priority. The space called for a statement, and with its tall ceilings, balcony, and expansive entrance with glass windows, the “bones” were there. We wanted to capitalize on the existing conditions but bring it up to date by incorporating warm wood tones, moody colors that create depth, statement lighting, and a 2-story tall green wall. We also relocated the lobby desk to a more central location, so the staff would have better sightlines, and would be able to access other utility spaces more easily without leaving the desk unattended. The new design proposal was fully 3D-modeled and rendered, giving the project management team marketing material for promoting the upcoming renovation.

Left: Before; Right: Our Rendering

Left: Before; Right and slider images: Renderings and after

Next, we tackled the game room. The current space had all the right conditions – natural light, easy access, and a large space. The game room was a great amenity for the apartment complex, but it was underutilized due to a poor layout and outdated finishes. The property management team’s goal was to make this space inviting and fun, and the wheels in our head began turning the moment we got back to our desks. Our vision was to create a space that would serve all needs – and addressing the layout and how the space would be used was our first step. We reconfigured the space to house a pool table, a foosball table, and a shared snack bar with couches and ottomans for game day fun or large gatherings. Alongside the new large group seating, we also added banquet seating with partitions to create pockets of more private spaces, so multiple people could use the room at once without feeling like they are impeding on another group. The finishes complement the lobby renovation, bringing in those warm wood tones, subtle JMU color influences, and capitalized on the existing space’s industrial flair.

CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS:
Just like the lobby, we created photorealistic renderings that the project management team used to build excitement for the renovations and drive leasing.

Lastly, we refreshed the rooftop terrace space. With incredible views, a wet bar, and a covered pavilion, the space already had strong potential. With just some minor tweaks to furniture, colors, and listening to how the space is primarily used, the space took on a whole new look. We added some fun pops of color to brighten the space, some furniture that allowed for suntanning which is what the space is commonly used for and updated the soft furniture under the pavilion.