We have been so busy over the last month we failed to post photos from our big party! Here is the press release and some photos from the event.
Gaines Group Architects moves firm headquarters to renovated historic Harrisonburg train station.
The Gaines Group, PLC, Architects is pleased to announce the relocation of its firm headquarters to the historic Chesapeake Western Railroad Depot in the heart of Harrisonburg, Virginia. This milestone marks multiple points of celebration for the firm. Over the last 37 years this business has grown from a one-person operation to a thriving two-location small architectural firm serving communities across four states including Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. In the last 15 years it has experienced a substantial increase in the number and average size of projects and has doubled the size of the firm. This year Raymond Gaines and Charles Hendricks were joined by Paul Tassell, Adrienne Stronge, Deborah Smith, and James Halstead as principals, thus increasing the businesses’ resilience. The firm is celebrating sixnewhires who bring a diverse set of talents to the organization. Providing architectural services for a project base that includes custom residential, multi-family residential, industrial, educational, commercial, renovation, child care, and more has allowed the firm to continue to grow in spite of the COVID pandemic.
Charles attributes the firm’s growth to its focus on design that creates a better future for all. He says, “Our focus is to find ways to build a stronger community for everyone. We do this through our projects, designing sustainable solutions into every project. We use design strategies that are durable, energy-efficient, and healthy that not only benefit our client, but the community as a whole. We also seek out organizations in our communities that we can partner with and support through volunteer efforts to further this goal. From our work on boards and commissions, to giving our time and skills, we want our legacy to be one of caring for others, the environment, and our collective future.“
The #hilltophouse is complete, built by Sauder Builders, Inc,. We were able to photograph the inside (outside photos pending the landscape to spring forth with spring weather). #hilltophouse was designed with a goal of allowing family to gather with connection to the outside at all times. The incredible kitchen developed by Lantz Custom Woodworking serves as an anchor in the main living space with the two-story brick wall on the other side of the open living space giving instant character. The exposed steel beams sit on top of the heavy wood timbers that mimic the exterior porch columns supporting the loft above. The open cable rail system allows for the industrial style to take on a modern twist while the wood floors from Weavers Flooring warm the space that will capture many years of memories.
The primary bedroom and bathroom suite is an oasis for relaxation. The brick is carried into this space giving the space instant charm while the large windows and doors open the space to incredible views. The oversized shower and soaking tub will serve as a wonderful place to unwind and relax.
The second floor features a bunk room, third bedroom, and gaming room along with another bathroom. This incredible home will be the homestead of many generations to gather and celebrate milestones and holidays.
The floating stair blends the industrial and modern style while maintaining the open light style of the living space.
More pictures of the exterior to come as soon as the landscaping come in.
Explore More Discovery Museum brings so many exciting opportunities for families to our community. We were able to partner with them again this year to support First Lego League Jr. This event brings teams of budding architects and engineers together to solve problems, learn teamwork, learn programming, overcome obstacles, and tackle design challenges.
First Lego League Jr. is built on 6 core values, Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, and FUN!!! By embracing the core values, participants learn that friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals, and that helping one another is the foundation of teamwork.
Meeting with these teams and hearing about their design solutions was inspiring and exciting. These 6 – 10-year-olds learned about solar photovoltaic energy and wind energy, designed inclusive spaces, and explored their own creativity.
We love partnering with Explore More Discovery Museum and supporting all the amazing programs and services they provide in our community. They are just one of the many ways that our community creates such an incredible quality of life of families attracting so many to live, work, and play in our community. Charles also serves on the Explore More Discovery Museum board of directors and their building committee.
The #HilltopHouse is in the final days of construction and our client is counting down until move in time. The builder, Sauder Builders, Inc has delivered his signature high level attention to finish details home. The cabinetry done by Lantz Woodworking and, as you would expect from them, is like artwork. The interior brick walls, wood floors, floating stair, exposed steel beam, heavy timber, industrial windows, and wrap around porch are just as we hoped after hearing our client describe what they wanted.
This home is truly a result of listening to the dream of a client and putting the pieces together. We have known these clients for a very long time and have even worked with them in a variety of roles in the community, so we know each other well. It is even more special to hear that their daughter was able to flex her design skills in several parts of the interior of the house.
We are fortunate to have been able to work on their house with them and to get to work with Larry to see this project through to construction. It is breathtaking.
This home is less than 30 days from the finish line and the details are almost done. In a time when delays and shortages have become the norm and when the unexpected has become the expected, I am so impressed with the quality that Larry and his team has been able to deliver.
It is a beautiful home and I know our clients are going to love the space and all the memories they will be able to create here, for many generations to come. This is why we design. Taking the dream that someone has in their mind and putting it on paper so that a builder can execute it – this is the process that should happen. I wish I had gotten to design every corner and pick out every finish, but that’s not what needed to happen on this project. This project had a team and each member of the team brought their skills and knowledge to deliver the dream home that our clients wanted in the end.
We will hopefully get finished photos very soon so you can see it all clean and dust free!!! Stay tuned.
On #InternationalWomensDay we highlight the women of Gaines Group Architects! Adrienne, Deborah, Carla, Mariya, and Asha are all integral team members that bring diversity, skill, and knowledge to each and every project we work on in the office. We appreciate them every day, but especially today on International Women’s Day we take the opportunity to celebrate them and all of the knowledge and skills that they bring to Gaines Group and the community.
Adrienne is a partner in the Charlottesville office, leads our multi-family project division and is our go-to for ADA compliance questions. She balances being a mom, wife, and small business owner with taking care of our clients on some of biggest scope projects.
Deborah has one of the hardest tasks in the firm, she works directly with Charles. She is a partner in Harrisonburg and runs the Harrisonburg office. She has become the go-to for building code compliance questions in our office and is often the one that is tasked with “finishing” the projects that Charles starts. She is a dog mom, a business school graduate from EMU, and a active volunteer with the Harrisonburg Women’s Service League
Carla has been with the firm the longest of all the women in our team and does all the behind the scenes finance work, running the accounting department single handed. She is active in her church community and balances being a wife and mom to her two children.
Mariya is a new designer for our team and is learning our processes and standards. She works with Deborah and Adrienne on a variety of projects while balancing her volunteer efforts at her church.
Asha is our newest addition to the team joining us as our Harrisonburg office manager and marketing team leader. She recently graduated from EMU, is balancing between two part-time jobs, and spends her free time creating art and caring for her plants.
