Each year we host high school students in our office for a chance to job shadow and explore architecture as a career. There are so many avenues you can take if you enjoy design and this is a great way to explore one before paying for college. We spend time talking about college options, majors, career options, experiences, daily activities, and more. Over the last 12 years, we have hosted a number of students that thought architecture would be their college major that changed direction after being in the office. This is a huge financial saving for them and allowed them to explore other options early on. We have also had several students continue on to an architectural major, including Eli and Keeanna. This summer Emma Kate joined us for a short time to complete a job shadow requirement she had for school. Here is her story:
My name is Emma Kate, and I am a senior atBuffalo Gap High School and Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School in Augusta County. Over the Summer of 2021, I had the pleasure of job shadowing Charles Hendricks and his company, Gaines Group Architects. During this time, I sat through meetings with contractors and subcontractors and listened to discussions of floor plans, plan changes, working in SketchUp, and spoke with other employees about career paths. Throughout this time, my eyes were opened to the field and its surrounding options. I would highly recommend working with Charles and his highly personable staff; they are always willing to lend a helping hand, whether it be talking about their career or aiding in the virtual construction of a house.
As mentioned above, throughout my mentorship, I continuously worked in SketchUp to increase my familiarity with the program, while also exposing myself to more aspects of design. Most of my time was spent working on the tiny house shown in the pictures. Designing this house gave me a chance to increase my creativity in storage and design and increased my knowledge of spatial awareness. Extra storage elements include closet space beneath the stairs to make up for space lost in the bedroom/loft area, a closet with a shelving unit in the bathroom, and a fully functional kitchen with storage opportunities. This was a great way for me to learn the software, its options, its shortcuts, and its overall layout should I need it in the future.
In summary, my entire mentorship with Charles and his company was a great way for me to be more informed of the career path I am most interested in, and it allowed me to dabble slightly in almost every aspect.
As the need for renewable energy rises so does accessibility. The first annual Rocktown Energy Festival is bringing the information you need to go green and live an environmentally sustainable life. This free event will take place on October 2nd at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market and will work to promote clean energy in the Valley. It will not just cover the large-scale efforts to utilize renewable energy but also highlight what individuals can do to make their homes, lives, and families greener.
This event will feature informational speakers, workshops, and sustainable-focused business owners to discuss the benefits of clean energy. The goal is to get members of the valley to explore green energy options and explore the benefits that follow. There will even be a familiar face at this event as our very own Charles Hendricks will be attending to talk about the importance of solar power, and sustainable homes.
We are beyond thrilled to not only be a part of this event but to sponsor in the hopes of educating homeowners on opportunities to save the environment, and save them money.
With First Friday fast approaching, we are taking time to highlight the rich history of our gallery space. Before The Depot was “The Depot” it was The Chesapeake Western Railroad Depot and was constructed in 1913 to rival other railroad companies in a location that blocked off possible expansions. It’s no surprise that a building constructed out of spite would house some of the hardest working railwaymen in Virginia. This summer we had the privilege of hosting a bench dedication for Walter P. “Tinky” Bryan and took time to honor his legacy with his family.
We invited several members of the community to come and speak about the history of the building and the similarity between the strength of the building itself and the railway workers that made it what it is. Our very own Charles Hendricks discussed the power of the Depot in the Harrisonburg community and how it functions as a symbol of resilience, history, and restoration.
Walter P. “Tinky” Bryan, was a man dedicated to his work, and his family, making sure to reserve Sunday mornings for taking his family to church. His goal in life was to go out with his boots on and sure enough, his wish was granted. We are incredibly honored to share The Depot with Tinky’s family and share the historic relics that live here. We are even more thrilled that Tinky has his very own bench at his favorite place for friends and family to enjoy and remember his strength, resiliency, and passion for his work.
Whether we notice it or not, art will always have a seat at the table in every community. Art has been used as not only a form of self-expression but a form of communication that can convey more than words ever could. When speaking about art in the context of community it isn’t just paintings, drawings, or even photography – it can be found inthe design of our homes, the ingredients of our food, and even the fabric of our clothes. Art also brings us together, whether it be at a gallery or sitting at the kitchen table staring at doodles on the fridge, it always finds a way of drawing us in.
These elements are all similar to those in our community, but not exact – we are united yet we are individuals. We can find the same way of thinking in the way spaces are designed. Every home we create is unique, while there might be elements that are common for the surrounding area, each plan is designed for the specific family that will be living there. While homes are mostly stagnant we understand that the inhabitants definitely aren’t, we design with your future goals, hopes, and aspirations in mind so we can create a space that encourages your plans for the future.
An example of this is a home we designed (built byBeck Builders) for a family that understands the value of children playing and exploring. They requested to create spaces their kids could hide and open floor plans for plenty of family space, ultimately we were asked to create a home where their children could enjoy childhood to the fullest. This resulted in creating a unique hidden room behind a bookcase, along with plenty of other secret hiding spots and passages.
These custom creative details not only allow us to design beautiful homes, but allow us to create spaces that encourage playfulness, growth, and memories for families. A custom design is one that facilitates the life you want to live. Your priorities, beliefs, and focus all come into the design to shape space or place. A house is the most complicated machine you will ever own, so this customization is critical to living fully. A custom design is more than just selecting colors or finishes, it is a process to understand you and your family and reflecting that in design. We infuse fun, creativity, tranquility, comfort, energy efficiency, durability, function all into the design solution. If you are looking for a custom home solution, reach out to us for a conversation, we would love to help.
Now that life is slowly shifting back to normal we are eager to start up our beloved First Friday gallery nights, featuring Andrea Konstant, and Cara Walton. Please join us on Friday, September 3rd, 2021 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm to celebrate our featured artists and enjoy getting back to community engagement, masks required, vaccines encouraged. You can also learn more or RSVP to this event here.
Cara Walton is a self-proclaimed “accidental artist” and Star Wars nerd who uses photography to take a step away from the stress that comes with work, life, and being an educator through the pandemic. Between being a high school World History professor, and teaching photography for educators at James Madison University, Walton makes time to find the beauty in abandonment.
Andrea Konstant rekindled her love of art in the middle of the pandemic and hasn’t looked back, she pulls inspiration from different aspects of nature such as flowers, shells, and rocks. There is no lack of inspiration for Andrea as she is constantly on the move, she has traveled to Nepal, China, Thailand, India, and all through Europe. She plans to eventually visit every single National Park in the United States, which will lead to even more creative pieces.
