Blog by: Adrienne Stronge
For my family and me, the Lake Monticello Community Foundation’s Festival of Trees has been a holiday staple since its very first year. Living here at the Lake, it is a celebration we look forward to every December. My kids love walking through the Ashlawn Clubhouse, marveling at the creativity, and carefully choosing which trees to drop their raffle tickets into.
However, this year was a little different—and extra special.
While my family has attended for years, this is the first year The Gaines Group Architects participated as a firm. I was thrilled to bring my professional team into this personal family tradition. Our entry, themed “Brick the Halls,” was designed to capture that same childhood joy I see in my own kids.
We traded our blueprints for building blocks, decorating the tree with LEGO ornaments and offering a full set of LEGOs as a prize. The reception was fantastic—we saw so many kids (and the young at heart!) pointing out the hidden brick Santas and snowmen, and our tree gathered a “ton” of raffle tickets.
Supporting Our Neighbors
Beyond the fun of the LEGOs, bringing The Gaines Group to this event was about supporting the community I call home. We wanted to support the Lake Monticello Community Foundation (LMCF) because of the tangible good they do in Fluvanna County.
The LMCF’s work aligns perfectly with our firm’s passion for Universal Design and accessibility. Their funding for the accessible playground and the accessible beach access ensures that the lake is a welcoming place for everyone, regardless of mobility. As architects in Charlottesville and residents of this community, seeing these improvements firsthand reminds us why inclusive design matters.
Community Impact: From the Lake to the Valley and Roanoke
At The Gaines Group Architects, we believe architecture is about service. This philosophy drives us across all our locations.
While this event supported my neighbors near our Charlottesville office, our commitment to community extends across Virginia:
- Harrisonburg: Our roots in the Shenandoah Valley are deep, built on years of sustainable design and community partnership.
- Roanoke: We are excited to announce our new office in Roanoke! Just as we are “bricking the halls” here at the Lake, our Roanoke team is already hitting the ground running, getting involved with local organizations to support the Star City.
Whether we are designing a custom home, a commercial renovation, or volunteering for a local non-profit, our goal remains the same: to design solutions that improve the lives of those around us.
Building a Future Together
Thank you to the LMCF for another amazing Festival of Trees, and to everyone who supported our “Brick the Halls” tree. It was an honor to merge my family tradition with my firm’s values this year.
If you are looking for architects in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, or Roanoke who value community, sustainability, and creative design, let’s connect. Whether you are looking to build a new home or renovate a space for aging-in-place, we are ready to help you put the pieces together.
Learn more about our work and our offices at www.thegainesgroup.com.
