For Immediate Release: The Gaines Group, PLC adds depth and experience with Meg Carpenter
Press Inquiries: Charles Hendricks, AIA, CSI, CDT, CAPS, CGP, LEED AP
540-437-0012, cbhendricks@thegainesgroup.com
Charlottesville, VA – The Gaines Group, PLC is pleased to announce the addition of Megan Carpenter to our Charlottesville, VA office. Megan (Meg) Carpenter brings a diverse set of skills to our team and expands our ability to better serve our clients. She studied at the University Of Virginia School Of Architecture and received a Bachelors of Science in Architecture and a Minor in Landscape Architecture.
Meg is a native to Charlottesville since 2001 after living in Southern California. Her interest in architecture began in her high school years when she participated in the Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center’s (CATEC) Architecture & Construction program (The Gaines Group assisted with this course and has supported the carpentry department since 2004); and after viewing the blueprints to her grandfather’s custom-built home. As a UVA student she was a member of the EcoReMOD BxB team that partnered with the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program (AHIP) under UVA Professor John Quale. Meg received training in Italy on a study abroad program that focused on hand drafting and diagrammatic communication. She was drawn to The Gaines Group by their practice in LEED standards and residential projects. She continues to be plugged into the Charlottesville community as she serves as a volleyball coach at Monticello High School. Meg joins the team excited to be a part of The Gaines Group and is pursuing her license in architecture.
About The Gaines Group, PLC
The Gaines Group, PLC is a Virginia based architecture firm with offices in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg. Established in 1987, the firm has a dedication to strong ideas, ecological stewardship, and client satisfaction. As an award-winning residential and commercial building design firm, The Gaines Group, PLC has established a strong reputation of sophisticated design through addressing the specific needs and place for which a project is to be built. The firm’s work does not espouse any singular architectural style, but strives to find that which is unique and important within a given project and to express it architecturally. The firm offers a comprehensive range of integrated design services including architecture, LEED Consulting, Specification Consulting, Interior Design, Landscape planning, Master Planning, Site Planning, Graphic Design, and Marketing Design.
So now you have decided to hire an architect. How do you find the right architect for your custom home?
Find a firm that focuses on residential design. Architects all have areas of specialization.
Find a firm that does a diversity of residential styles, or at least has done projects that you find aesthetically pleasing.
Interview the architect and find out whether they will be working on your project directly, what values they incorporate into their designs, and how they prefer to communicate. If the architect has a blog, many of these questions will probably be answered by reading their thoughts prior to the face-to-face interview.Personal confidence in the architect is the most important factor when entering a design relationship. The other important criteria are trust and ability to communicate (hear you well). Of course, cost for the design is an important element and should be discussed before signing a contract to make sure everyone is on the same page with your budget.
Ask for references from the architect. They can provide you with past clients that are willing to talk to you about their process with the architect. Many of these past clients probably have gone through the same experiences as you are, so these conversations can be of huge value not only in selecting an architect, but learning about the process and strategies for making your experience even better.
When looking at cities on Google earth, we see a lot of dark surfaces. Most roofing is a dark color. Pavement is typically a dark color. It appears that even the majority of our cars are dark. This all contributes to something called “heat island impact.” To combat this a designer can use light colored materials for pavement, roofing, and reduce paved areas on a site.
The solar reflectance index (SRI) is a measure of the constructed surface’s ability to stay cool in the sun by reflecting solar radiation and emitting thermal radiation. A standard black surface has a SRI of 0 and a standard white surface has a SRI of 100. In order to calculate the SRI of a material you use the solar reflectance and thermal emittance from the cool roof rating council standard. You can offset “heat island impact” by using white roofing, white concrete for paving, and vegetative roofs.
Beck builders is making great progress on the construction of the custom home we designed in Old Town Harrisonburg. Here are some pictures to update the progress. From the custom porch rails, roof deck, secret spaces, and natural parking areas, this home is special. Previous updates here, here, here and here.
Calling an architect to some seems like a luxury or at least an expense that can be avoided. There are many options to get plans for a custom home. If you work hard at it you can find a plan online that is close to what you want or you can find a builder that offers design for free if they build the house. Some even settle for a drafter to draw a “custom” home. So why should you pay for a custom design done by an architect?
The biggest difference between a drafter and an architect is the licensing requirements required by the state to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. In order to qualify for licensing as an architect you have to earn a professional degree from an accredited University, complete an internship (typically 3 years) and you have to pass the Architectural Registration Examination, and in Virginia you also have to have letters from three other licensed architects endorsing your competence to be an architect. You then have to earn a minimum of 9 learning units per year to maintain your license. To be a drafter, you only need a business license. To offer plans online you only need a business license. To be a builder that offers design you only need a contractor’s license. No training to know how to design. No training to understand building code. No training to understand space planning. No training to understand building science. The difference between an architect and any other option is the level of skill you are required to achieve to be in practice as an architect. The first step to a custom home is to hire an architect. If all you want is a new home, then all the other options are viable options.
Construction waste is not talked about much (or at all) in the general public. That dumpster on site gets filled and emptied on a regular basis. Some is sent to a landfill and some gets recycled for a future use.
Construction waste consists of those materials at a job site that cannot be easily used on that site. Small cuts of wood that are left over, tree stumps, rubble, drywall cuts, and damaged materials all go into the dumpster.
Construction waste can be diverted from the landfill through proper planning and waste can be reduced through design.
Charlottesville, VA – The Gaines Group, PLC is pleased to announce the addition of Megan Carpenter to our Charlottesville, VA office. Megan (Meg) Carpenter brings a diverse set of skills to our team and expands our ability to better serve our clients. She studied at the University Of Virginia School Of Architecture and received a Bachelors of Science in Architecture and a Minor in Landscape Architecture.
Calling an architect to some seems like a luxury or at least an expense that can be avoided. There are many options to get plans for a custom home. If you work hard at it you can find a plan online that is close to what you want or you can find a builder that offers design for free if they build the house. Some even settle for a drafter to draw a “custom” home. So why should you pay for a custom design done by an architect?
