by Charles Hendricks | Feb 3, 2023 | architecture, team
It’s the turn of a new year and we are happy to share that our team continues to grow with the recent addition of Asha Beck. Asha is a talented young professional entering our industry and is eager to begin her career around other creatives.
Originally from Michiana, Asha moved to Linville, Virginia when she was young and considers the valley her home. Both her home and life are filled with family, friends, as well as her two German Shepherds. She is a recent graduate of Eastern Mennonite University with a degree in Digital Media & Communications and a minor in Spanish. (Deborah also graduated from EMU.) Asha completed a diverse range of design projects in and out of her time at EMU including producing a documentary, designing and translating a website, designing ads for a local business, mural painting, and writing and exhibiting her thesis.
Asha has a diverse range of experience spanning design, leadership, and organization. She has enjoyed many positions and learning opportunities including working in construction, being a camp counselor, leading a club for lgbtq+ students and allies, and being a barista and baker at multiple coffee shops. These experiences have helped develop her organizational and design skills that will greatly support our team and help her succeed in the Office Manager position.
She is also eager to be around fellow design-minded people because there is “just something about being around other creatives.” Growing up, she was always interested in arts and math, which weren’t often paired in early education. She found their intersection in designing spaces both in the digital and physical realms. Over the years, this has taken the form of building construction, website design, accessibility, and graphic design. Architecture is where she found this intersection, and it has been something that she’s been drawn to by her interest in the way spaces can influence our lives. She considers architecture as an option for a future graduate degree.
On the side, Asha enjoys filling journals with doodles, caring for her plants, and throwing pottery on the wheel. You can probably find her learning some new craft or skill or hanging out with her friends and family. She finds energy from a sense of community and seeing people light up when talking about something they are passionate about. She is inspired and humbled by unique perspectives and strives to continually learn from people who are both different and similar to her. She aims to approach design from an adaptable and intersectional lens and is excited to further cultivate her skills while working at the Gaines Group.
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 31, 2023 | architecture, team
Meet Myles Perdue, one of our newest designers at Gaines Group Architects. Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands on the Island of St. Croix, Myles has called Winchester home since he was 5 years old. Over the last 4 years he has attended James Madison University, picking it for their architectural program. He found that JMU Architecture has a different approach to design that intrigued him over other architectural programs. The first time he stepped on campus and got to explore Harrisonburg, he knew that this could be home away from home.
Myles’ interest in architecture focuses on the relationship of the built environment and the human experience. He loves the way that architects are able to sculpt spaces that have a positive impact on people’s lives. He says “I have seen cold dark spaces that zap the energy out of a room and bright warm spaces that invigorate those in that space. I hope to design better spaces that encourage and uplift the people using those spaces.”
Joining Gaines Group Architects in a part-time capacity while finishing his four years at James Madison University, he is gaining valuable experience. Upon graduating in May, Myles will go full-time with our team. Outside of Architecture, he has also worked on campus as an orientation peer advisor and residential advisor. He loves the idea of giving back to the JMU community and this support of his peers is just one way he accomplishes this goal.
In his free time, he enjoys being involved in campus organizations and hanging out with friends. He loves to eat out and some of his favorite spots are Hokkaido, Billy Jack’s, and CiCi’s. Myles plays dodgeball and volleyball intramural staying active and reducing stress. He also likes to relax watching Netflix reality shows like Love is Blind and Married at First Sight. Another way he gives back to his community of peers is volunteering with JMU SafeRides, an organization dedicated to the fight against drunk driving. They operate Friday and Saturday nights from 10:00 pm – 3:00 am.
Myles says that his mother, Anabel, always encourages him to be great and supports him through everything. He is a strong believer in finding inspiration in everything, including family and friends. He is inspired by people who don’t let barriers get in the way of their goals and those that can resist the urge to bite their fingernails.
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 19, 2023 | architecture, Office Culture
Happy national #LibraryShelfieDay! We love the digital world, but there’s nothing like holding a book in your hands. Often our passions overlap with our professional lives and we have book collections to prove it. Sometimes our books are an escape a place to rest and recover from our professional lives. In any case, our bookshelves are almost always a reflection of who we are and what we want to become. Today we celebrate book lovers in a fun way.
Celebrate #LibraryShelfieDay with us by dropping your own #libraryshelfieday photo in the comments! Or, if you’re camera shy, feel free to just spend a little extra time appreciating your books today.
Adrienne (at home)
Adrienne (at work)
Deborah with Christmas decoration debris in the background
Ray’s Shelf and coffee cup storage
Charles has a few books
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 7, 2023 | architecture
As architects and designers, we have the privilege of being trusted with our client’s dreams. A client might dream of the house they want to live in the rest of their life, a kitchen that is just right for family gatherings, a business space that enhances their products and services. We get to hear the goals for our clients, those that have emotional weight and need to be held with care. Then we get to help with the visualization of the dream. We get to design, sculpt space, verify compliance, and shape the future of the dream. Whatever the dream might be, we have the great honor of designing how to build it. How cool is that?
The visualization of the dream can take a variety of formats. We draw plans and elevations, cut sections and develop details. However, the most fun we can have is creating renderings so the client can see the 3D version of their space. We can change the time of day, orientation, colors, and materials so they can find the “just right” final product before construction ever starts. The process of rendering does take time, it is not just a click of a button like they show on television. The results are worth it in the end so that our client really knows what the space will feel like early in the design process.
Over the years we have had the opportunity to render homes, schools, studios, church additions, and more. Each one usually takes a different “style” to get the result the client needs to understand the design. Every rendering has merit whether it is a marker drawing or a 3D computer model. We love to serve our clients and hold tight to their dream throughout the design and construction process. If you find a need for a 3D rendering, please reach out.
by Charles Hendricks | Oct 28, 2022 | Building Science, Indoor Air Quality, resources
Fall weather and the smell of pumpkin spice have us thinking about insulation and air sealing. We know the cold weather will soon be setting in and now is the time to ensure energy efficiency in your home and prepare for the colder temperatures ahead. No one wants to suffer through an uncomfortable home nor be wasteful, especially as energy prices continue to increase. Below you will find some ideas of how to achieve a more energy-efficient, comfortable home.
Identify air leaks and protect your home for the colder temperatures.
- Caulk can be your best friend when it comes to air sealing, but which one should you use? Read up on the blog here.
- Find the air leaks by scheduling a free energy audit, which we can do for you! Learn more here.
- Did you know that your attic door needs to be insulated? Learn why here.
- While you are checking out your attic door, take a look at the insulation while you are there. Learn more here.
- Is your heating system working properly? Here are some resources to help you out.
- Conserving energy is key, see the impact (below) on the roof of our design project here.
Notice the difference between the two roofs? Energy efficiency is visible on roofs after a snowfall.
We want to see more families saving energy and money. Feel free to give us a call or reach out with any questions regarding the comfort of your home.
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