by Charles Hendricks | Nov 29, 2017 | architecture
Career development is a great focus of the Gaines Group in helping students become architects. Alex Alvarez is a future leader in the construction industry. He attends Blue Ridge Community College and is on a path to apply for admission to the Virginia Tech Building Construction Program. I asked him to write a blog post to talk about his experience job shadowing in our office. Here is his career development story:
After completing my first year at Blue Ridge Community College I was fortunate enough to discover the Gaines Group Architects and be given the opportunity to be mentored in the office by Charles. I chose to go to community college for three reasons:
- Price
- How close it is to home
- Small class sizes.
I would like to transfer to Virginia Tech’s building construction program and do architecture in grad school. Virginia Tech is a good option for me because it is a big school but still has small class sizes. Also has a great community environment and is more affordable than other similar universities.
The first day I went into the office Charles challenged me to build a garage in AutoCAD and model it as well. After that small project, David Martin, another student in the office from Virginia Tech and I worked on a house for an empty lot David had next to his house. Throughout the project David and I bounced ideas off each other and worked through problems in each other’s plans together. Also we had Charles there to help and guide us. I am currently working on a barn for my dad and Charles continues to be a great help in the design process.
Before the Gaines Group Architects all I knew where my hand sketches and physical models, now after around seven months being mentored by Charles and others in the office I know AutoCAD, Sketchup, renderings, detail sections, Photoshop, and many more skills. Charles continues to not only be a great mentor but a great role model for me. I am very fortunate to be mentored by him and I encourage anyone interested in architecture or a related field to seek out a mentorship.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 21, 2017 | architecture
10 tips to go green this Thanksgiving
- Shop Local for your Thanksgiving feast – go to the local farmer’s market, shop at a Food Co-op, buy from a farmer in your area, grow your own vegetables
- Skip the paper and plastic – remember to take your reusable bags to the grocery store
- Use a reusable Roasting Pan to cook your turkey. Disposable roasting pans have become more popular in recent years, but they are not good for the environment
- Use LED bulbs – to light your celebration
- Use Cloth Napkins – reducing paper waste can help reduce the 2,200 paper napkins use by Americans per year. That is 662 billion napkins in the US per year
6. Ask guest to bring reusable to-go containers to take home Thanksgiving leftovers
7. Compost leftovers that don’t get eaten – the average American family wastes $600 in food each year. Instead of throwing away uneaten leftovers or scraps, compost them
8. Use the fancy China plates and silverware – using plastiac utensils and paper plates usually ends up in the local landfill
9. Remember to Recycle instead of throwing packaging away
10. Carpool – plan your trip to your Thanksgiving celebration destination in a way that you all reduce the total number of miles driven individually
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 17, 2017 | architecture, Building Science
It is important to have the right amount of insulation in your attic:
The minimum amount of insulation you should have in your attic ranges from 8 – 12″ depending on your insulation type. Spray foam could need less. Adding insulation over what you already have is an easy solution to cut your monthly energy use and increase your comfort in your living room.
Other things to look at while in your attic:
There are some other things to look at in the attic while you are there. Make sure there are no vents from dryers or bathrooms that vent into the space. You want to keep your attic as dry as possible. Adding moist warm air into that space only leads to problems. Also, check for any critters that have decided your attic is a nice warm place to hang out. On a recent energy audit I found what looked like multiple nests. This is not uncommon as your attic is a much nicer place on a cold winter night to sleep. Check to make sure you have complete coverage in the space. You want the entire attic area insulated. You also want to make sure the attic is as air tight as possible from your conditioned home.
Last check before leaving the attic:
As you are leaving the attic, make sure your attic access is covered with insulation.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 1, 2017 | architecture
Activity has been constant in the Weiler Orthodontics space since the construction began – see here. Herr and Company has been orchestrating as many as 12 companies at a time working in the small space. Today they start seeing patients in the space again!
Taking off wallpaper and changing colors was the first step to bringing this space in line with the current business.
Formalizing the play area and waiting area were also an important part of telling the business story. This entry area is very important to creating a calming effect for those visiting the space.
The check in desk had a distinctive curve that we recreated in the new design. However, we wanted the space to feel lighter and brighter.
The break room needed a little more space and the basement stair had more space than needed, so a clever hole in the wall allows for cabinets to recess into the stair space.
The clinic is the core of the business. This space needs to be calm, bright, and fun.
The exterior of the business is the calling card for those not yet clients and those arriving for a first visit. This addition will set the tone for what to expect when you enter the space. It is essentially a sign that says this business is young, fun, welcoming, and professional. I hear all the time, we want to do a face lift on our business to update the building that has become dated. This client understood that tying the inside to the exterior to reinforce their business was key to long-term success. What do you think so far?
Want to see more? Schedule an appointment at Weiler Orthodontics today!
by Charles Hendricks | Sep 29, 2017 | architecture, project update
“So here is the challenge, we have a highly successful business, our clients come in 5 days a week, we want to renovate our space….” That is where we started with Dr. Weiler. His business is doing well, his clients love him, but his space did not reflect his style or his clients style. So how do you do a major renovation on a space for a business that sees patients daily. Well, a lot of teamwork and coordination is the answer. Our firm developed a comprehensive plan for the design. We worked with Dr. Weiler and his team to get the parts right. We worked with Herr and Co. the contractor to get the budget right. We worked with the furniture companies and equipment suppliers to eliminate any issues during construction (we hope). Jim and Mike Herr planned, planned some more, then checked their plan to make sure everyone was on the same page.
Dr. Weiler’s team have gone above and beyond to identify a short window of time for the contractor to be on site to do the work – and it has begun. Work started late in the day after everything was moved out of the space and has continued almost around the clock so far. Fortunately, the contractor, Herr and Co. has developed a plan with all his subs to make this project happen on a very tight timeline. Most important, his sub-contractors are delivering on what they promised.
Phase 1 is a full gut of the space. The plumbers, A-Able Plumbing, got into the floor and got things going. Also this is the perfect time for our insulation friends at Elite Insulation to make this probably the most energy-efficient office building in that part of town. Everything is moving along as planned so far. Insulation is installed, entrance is demolished, and walls have holes in them all over the space. Stayed tuned for more updates on this very cool project.
by Charles Hendricks | Sep 22, 2017 | architecture
Vote for Team Meredith!
This is the eighth year of our wildly successful Dancing with the Stars of the ‘Burg! Each year seven local celebrity stars are matched with an amateur dance partner from the Shenandoah Valley chapter of USA Dance. The teams practice and fund raise for 14 weeks. The Children’s Champion trophy is awarded to the team who has the most pre-show donations. The Judge’s Choice is awarded to the best dance performance the night of the show. The People’s Choice award goes to the team with the most votes from the night of the show. The coveted Mirror Ball Trophy and the title of Grand Champion is presented to the team with the highest overall score.
Harrisonburg Rockingham Child Day Care Center has been a vital part of this community since 1971. HRCDCC provides high quality childcare to children ages 2 – 5. We offer an income based sliding fee scale which allows our child care center to be affordable to all families regardless of their income. Structured as a non-profit 501C3 agency, the center relies on funding from the United Way and fundraising efforts. THANK YOU for supporting this wonderful fundraiser!
Dancing With The Stars Of The ‘Burg – http://www.whsv.com/community/dance
Activity has been constant in the Weiler Orthodontics space since the construction began – 
“So here is the challenge, we have a highly successful business, our clients come in 5 days a week, we want to renovate our space….” That is where we started with 
