Our mission is to not just be a leader in the future of design but to also be a leader in making a difference in our communities. Part of the way we do that is by using our skills to support local nonprofits, such as the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center. One of the first projects we assisted on was the structural care and climate control of the Burkholder Myers House. This historic home lacked the climate control needed to withstand the varying temperatures and humidity the environment provided, and with quick action and the expertise of our team, we were able to provide a plan to preserve the structure with minimal damage.
As our involvement grew deeper with the center as sponsors of the Sing Me High Festival and Charles’ daughters frequently volunteering there, we learned of the value of this place in Harrisonburg. We were asked to volunteer our time to help develop a master plan for the long-term sustainability of the center and jumped at the opportunity. This planning phase for any sized organization is crucial to put a plan in place for future generations. While the main focus of the center is to look back at the history of Brethren and Mennonite, it is also looking to preserve heritage in the future. The center has resources that need a home – Hildebrand Church and heavy timber. It owns wagons with no wagon shed. The visitor’s center is not adequate for the needs long-term. So with our ability to visualize what can be in a place that is still growing, we set to work. Joining a committee with deep knowledge of the history of this center and also of Brethren and Mennonite stories we set forth to plan the right solutions while navigating zoning and code compliance. The process took many meetings and we learned a lot about the flow of tours, history, and needs. From those discussions, we were able to draft a master plan for the future.
This long-range plan will guide decisions for future additions to campus that will assist in providing more educational opportunities such as a Poultry House, Wagon Shed, and Carpentry shop. These resources not only allow volunteers to share information with visiting patrons but also host hands-on activities for local field trips. There are plans for a bank-barn, visitor’s center, moving Hildebrand Church, and expanding the 20th-century display along with functional solutions like parking, trees, and a new visitor’s center. The planning document allows for discussions about priority, budget, and schedules for even the most basic decisions – like when to hire a civil engineer to design storm-water solutions and verify compliance with local regulations.
Our work at the center not only benefits our communities but also gives us insight into the history of this place and the heritage that shapes it. As we began designing a simple (brooder) poultry house we learned a lot about the process from 100 years ago to not only care for the poultry but how buildings took shape in a practical and functional way. This new structure expands the offerings of the heritage center and allowed us to learn. A special thanks to JZ Engineering for helping us design a historically accurate 100-year-old structure.
Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center has and continues to be a crucial part of our communities as a resource for education and volunteer opportunities. As we strive to build a better community through design, we are proud to partner with such a beautiful and meaningful organization.
The Elk Rock Meadow Farmhouse has started to take shape. I visited the top of Afton Mountain yesterday to see how things were going and to enjoy the views. Herr and Companyhave started their work with site layout for this majestic farmhouse project that will capture views across the Appalachian Trail of the Blue Ridge. This new neighborhood has a couple of houses already and the addition of this farmhouse continues the tradition of beautiful homes.
The challenges of the last year have been well documented. We were forced in a very short amount of time to adapt our business to a virtual world with remote workers. I met with these clients on a regular basis using zoom, text, and phone calls. We exchanged ideas as they told me their dreams of living in this beautiful place close to family. We sketched, erased, changed, and modified to develop the finished product. The Elk Rock Meadow Farmhouse will sit near the entrance of the neighborhood and fits just right into the topography of the site.
Working with clients online and remote was a challenge. It makes it harder to read body language, or to point at items on the screen, and communicate desires. We had to learn from each other through the process to be better at communicating and the process has made us stronger designers. We achieved Architectural Board Approval for the design with no modifications – a difficult challenge for any neighborhood. The house has a sophisticated style and one that will fit well in the neighborhood. The interior layout will enhance livability for this family, I hope for many generations. The house is custom just for them and is designed withaging-in-place features, durability, and of course healthy indoor air in mind. I cannot wait to see it take shape.
The design process is done and the dirt has started to move. The Muddy Creek Cozy Cottage is now under construction in Rockingham County. It is an exciting time in the life of this new custom home. We have worked hard to make the house functional, right-sized, and cozy. There have been meetings where we talked about working in the kitchen and others thinking about views and topography. Now the fun really starts as the contractor begins putting our sections, plans, and elevations together on site.
The Muddy Creek Cozy Cottage is a place of relaxation and beauty. The details are delicate and will take care to get them just right during construction as they did in design. I am eager to see how the parts and pieces go together and if all the building science concerns I had during design are all that needed my attention. Right now, just the footings are dug, but soon we will have walls, glass, and a roof. Framing will take shape as a modest size home with breathtaking views through large expanses of glass. The firm is simple and the details are minimal making them all the more powerful.
As an architect, I am fortunate to get to dream along with my clients. I get to hear their goals and develop a plan to achieve them. This custom home on this site for these clients is special. With every creation, I invest emotion along with our clients. It is an incredible way to make a living. As I wait for the form to take shape, I am proud of what we have planned and thrilled our clients trusted me with their dream.
Scott Rogers once again has his finger on the pulse of the residential construction industry. His blog post about falling lumber prices is great news. I have seen the proof as R. S. Monger and Sons Inc. has been getting shipment after shipment in of wood products to restock their warehouses. Increasing prices for lumber has had an incredibly painful impact on home construction in our area over the past 6 months. Falling lumber prices are a start, but how do we fix the housing market in our community?
Lumber made the news as prices jumped dramatically just as a potential gas shortage made the news and then became reality. I am not saying it was a manufactured increase, but rather a result of a lot of factors from plant shutdowns to increased demand. However, it is not just lumber that is impacting the increased costs for construction. We are seeing an increase in all material prices. Where manufacturers used to do 1 or 2 price adjustments in a year, they are now doing it monthly if not more often, and up each time. We have also seen a dramatic decrease in the available construction industry workforce over the last 10 to 20 years and that does not seem to be changing. Predictions are that in the US alone we will need 430,000 more construction industry workers in 2021 than in 2020. We are also still seeing supply chain issues, yesterday a delivery truck showed up at a job site without the materials on the truck that were ordered? Why show up, I don’t understand. It is also hard to find products with any parts or resins coming from overseas right now, causing backorders and changes to selections that were made a couple of months ago. And now national builders have come into our market with the buying power of a national builder that does not source materials or labor through our local market – what changes will that bring?
As we look at many of the challenges our community face, many of them can lead you back to the need for more affordable housing options. The availability of affordable housing options is going to take time to improve and only through zoning changes, more labor entering the construction industry (college is expensive and construction jobs pay really well), and material prices falling. While lumber prices falling will help, it is just a small part of the systemic problem we need to overcome.
We love working on historic buildings, figuring out their history, and honoring it. Getting to design the façade renovation of the Historic Minor-Nelson house on High Street in Charlottesville is truly an honor. We have completed a number of historic renovations in and around Charlottesville and Harrisonburgover the years.
Built between 1830 and 1840, the Minor-Nelson house reflects the survival of Georgian Forms well into the nineteenth century. The house changed hands and functions several times in the middle of that century. It was originally built as a private home for Martha Minor. Before the civil war, it was used as a private school and during the war it served as part of the Charlottesville General Hospital in 1892, Dr. Hugh T. Nelson purchased the building and used it as his medical offices. Though owners changed, the house served the same function until 1971. In the 1970s a brick front porch and the curved stair was added.
We have taken on the task to design the restoration of the front facade that would have been present in the early 1900s honoring the history of the building and correcting some issues that existed. This historic renovation in Charlottesville will be brought back to its former glory and exist for generations to come.
