It’s been an incredible year of growth, challenges, and deep reflection. We’ve watched some amazing projects move through our pipeline and celebrated the completion of others that were years in the making. From the Spanish Learning Lab Daycare to the Rockingham County Timber Frame House, we have been reminded daily of the immense privilege we hold. It is a profound responsibility to design the spaces of dreams, whether that is a custom family home or a growing business.
Growing Our Impact
This year, our “planning for growth” became a reality as we officially opened our new office in Roanoke. For our CEO, Charles Hendricks, this was more than a business expansion; it was a homecoming to the Star City. By establishing a permanent home in the CoLab in Grandin Village and welcoming Claude Breithaupt to lead our Roanoke team, we are better positioned than ever to serve the Roanoke and New River Valley.
Our mission remains clear: through design, we can make the world a better place for everyone. Whether we are working with Habitat for Humanity or helping a client “future-proof” their home for aging-in-place, we believe architecture is an ethical duty. We design for the “seven generations” ahead, ensuring our impact is measured in sustainability, accessibility, and joy.
A Heartfelt Thank You
As we pause on this sacred evening, we want to say thank you.
- To our team: For rallying together and supporting one another. From our newest team members like Lindsey, Claude, Isabel, Lizzy, and Nicole you are the heart of this firm. Thank you.
- To our clients: Thank you for trusting us with your dreams. Whether we were working on a custom home, business relocation or expansion, or a school addition, thank you for trusting a process we know works.
- To our community: To those who follow our Design Matters blog, click through our website, or show up at events like “First Fridays” or the “Festival of Trees”—thank you. Your belief in our mission to create healthy, inclusive environments is what fuels our passion.
We love what we do because we get to do it with you. As we look toward the New Year, we aren’t just looking for “the right opportunities”—we are looking for the right ways to increase our impact on the world.
From all of us at The Gaines Group in Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, and Roanoke: Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
May your holiday be as resilient, warm, and well-designed as the homes in your dreams.
