by Charles Hendricks | Dec 29, 2024 | architecture, Bryce Resort, Harrisonburg Architect, project update
It is not hard to find a classic A frame home at Bryce resort. The challenge is often to find one that has enough space for the entire family to gather, provide some private spaces to take a break from family, and have plenty of outdoor space to gather. Our clients have enjoyed this home for years, but as their family expands it has proven to be a little small for everyone to come together. The A-frame, like many at Bryce Resort, sits on piers with no basement beneath. We needed to evaluate multiple options to figure out the best way to expand the existing house to meet the new goals for the property.
We discussed, sketched, and tried out a few options including adding a basement level vs doing an attached addition. The results all led us back to the same conclusion. A deck addition with a sleeping quarters attached (detached from the existing house) would be the most economical solution and would provide the best space. We worked through a deck stair connection, added the outdoor gathering space needed, and efficiently figured out the new sleeping quarters footprint.
Construction, has started and the foundation holes were dug last time we visited the site. The small bungalow space will be the right solution for this family to continue to gather and make memories at this property. We are looking forward to the builders, Over the Mountain Builders, to start putting the parts and pieces together.
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 28, 2024 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect
It is that time again when we reflect on the past year, reflect on all the awesome clients we have served, and look forward to the coming year with anticipation. This year was rough to start with, but is ending on solid ground. We lost some team members and added some new ones. We had the fortune of a record number of new projects in a year and that is saying something as we complete our 37th year in business. So as we start to reflect we look at what you were interested in learning more about. Here are the top 10 Blog posts of 2024.
10. Everyone wanted to know when the new Oriental Express would open – here is one of the construction updates that got a lot of attention.
9. There are questions and we have resources to help – thinking about building a custom home always gets a lot of attention. This resource will answer a lot of your questions before you ever hire an architect or builder.
8. It look like a lot of people were thinking about front porches this year – I think that is a good sign that we all want to build stronger communities.
Photo by Asha Beck
7. Learning more about aging in place is always a popular topic – thinking about plywood in your bathroom is one solution.
Photo by Asha Beck
6. Getting put on a national list of the top 100 architects was fairly cool – thanks for celebrating with us.
5. Adding a daycare in the heart of downtown Harrisonburg was a bright spot in the year for everyone!
4. Did you see the Northern Lights this year – seeing them at our clients house was so cool.
3. Our Dementia Friendly design guide continues to be an incredible resource for everyone that downloads it – based on the number of clicks it gets of course.
2. Our assorted coloring books are always a crowd pleaser and we love adding to the collection.
And the top blog post of 2024 is….
- If you want to be a better architect, you should read these 15 books
Thank you everyone for clicking on our website, reading our blog, and supporting our business. Each time you click on a page you are helping us find our next project. If there are topics we can share that you care about, let us know. We would love to have even more clicks in 2025.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 28, 2024 | architecture, Charlottesville, Green Building, Harrisonburg Architect
Do you need an architect for your custom home project?
I encourage you to call us if you are thinking about building a new custom home. It doesn’t matter what your budget is or how big of a house you hope to build. We can help answer questions to get you started on the right track. As an architect, it is our job to know if you need our services or if there is an alternative path to achieve your dream home. We can be very helpful in delivering a higher value solution than most of the other options.
Building a custom home is a significant investment, and it’s crucial to ensure that the process is smooth and the end result meets your expectations. One of the best ways to achieve this is by hiring an architect. While it may seem like an additional expense, the benefits of working with a professional far outweigh the costs. The largest advantage is our training to visualize the right solution for your stated goals, land, and budget. Architects have the skills and knowledge to translate your ideas and dreams into tangible designs. We listen to your overall goals and through an understanding of building materials, building science, construction best practices, material availability, and builders available we can deliver the highest value solutions for your dream custom home. We can also streamline the construction process by drawing the details needed for the builder to execute the plan, reduce building material waste, and schedule the work efficiently.
There is a difference in a custom home and a new home and that is often where we provide the most value. A custom home will facilitate the life you want to live in the place you want to call home. We will think through how life might evolve to plan for the future. We will ask questions about how you want to live and think about how the house design can enhance those goals. We will also make sure that the entire house flows, is aesthetically pleasing, and can be built economically. Doing the work in the design phase to make sure that the house is your dream house will save time and money during construction.
By hiring an architect, you’re investing in the success of your custom home project. Our expertise, creativity, and problem-solving skills will ensure that your dream home becomes a reality.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 27, 2024 | artwork, citizen architect, community, First Friday, Harrisonburg Architect, Local Leaders, Office Culture
Our December First Friday Holiday party is a special time. We always look forward to our artists that are here for one night only. This month, we are really excited about the creations that Erika Cash will bring for you to enjoy.
Royal Knotz was created by Erika at the beginning of 2024 as a branch off of her crochet business that she has with her mother, Wistful Willows. Royal Knotz focuses on crochet patterns that Erika develops herself.
Erika Cash is a wife and mother of 3. She has been crocheting for 26 years. Erika can bring many things to life with just a ball of yarn and a hook and has been commissioned to make many one-of-a-kind items. She loves creating crochet patterns and watching others bring the patterns to life. Erika sees crochet as a way to express herself and relieve stress.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 25, 2024 | artwork, citizen architect, community, First Friday, Harrisonburg Architect, Holiday, Local Leaders, Office Culture
Each month at the Depot we feature new artwork (except for January and February) for First Friday Harrisonburg. This outreach with our community artists is to give them a platform to feature their work, but it is more than that for us. We invest in our community in a variety of ways and supporting local artists is one of the primary methods that we use to build a stronger and more vibrant community. These monthly events are just as much about the artists sharing their creations as it is the community coming out to see it, talk to each other, and to get to know each other. Our community is stronger and more resilient if we know our neighbors and celebrate beautiful creations together. So I hope you will come for a visit on December 6, 2024 from 5pm – 7pm to see what Justin has created.
Justin Poole is our featured artist for December First Friday. His show entitled “Vistas,” represents a new phase in his development as an artist. The oil pastels are an attempt to foster a looser approach in his artwork, while the new oil paintings are an attempt to lean further into the fantastical, dreamlike, and sublime. More works of both types are being dreamed up and created as this new show launches, and Justin looks forward to where these new styles will lead.
Justin Poole is Associate Professor of Theatre and the Theatre Program Director at Eastern Mennonite University, where he has also taught classes on art history. He and his wife Amanda lead semester-long performance and visual art-themed study abroad programs to Europe and Morocco. Traveling is the greatest source of inspiration for Justin’s own performance and visual art. Largely self-taught, Justin hones his drawing and painting skills while observing and sketching the works of the masters at some of his favorite Europe art museums, especially Vienna, Austria’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Tate Britain in London. He is also the Artist-In-Residence at Asbury United Methodist Church, where he manages the gallery space and seeks to integrate art and faith.
If you would like to purchase his painting(s) you may contact him via email or phone. You can also visit his website to see more paintings. He also gladly accepts commissions!
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 610-585-1663
Website: justinpooleart.com
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 23, 2024 | artwork, citizen architect, community, First Friday, Harrisonburg Architect, Local Leaders, Office Culture
Our annual Holiday Party is coming up on FIRST FRIDAY, December 6, 2024, and Red Wing Academy is back!!! We absolutely love supporting and partnering with Red Wing Academy each year, and it is such a pleasure to host a small group of these talented students each year for our holiday celebrations.
Red Wing Academy is a music camp hosted by Eric Brubaker of The Steel Wheels. It’s a four-day intensive camp held annually at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. This camp is designed to nurture young musicians, providing them with the skills, talents, and community to go beyond classical training into the world of improvisational performance and group play. The culmination of the academy is a performance on-stage with the Steel Wheels at Red Wing Roots Music Festival. It’s open to non-beginner violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin and banjo students ages 5 – 19. Students receive individual and group instruction from highly trained music teachers and are coached by members of The Steel Wheels throughout the week. It’s an incredible opportunity to play with and learn from music experts.
Gaines Group Architects sponsors the academy each year to support the next generation of musicians in our community. A focus on musical instruction not only teaches kids how to play, but studies have shown that it accelerates brain development in young children, particularly in the areas of the brain that are responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception, and reading skills.
A special Thank You to Meg with Tiller Strings for making the partnership possible!
Photo by Asha Beck
Photo by Asha Beck
