The SVBA Home and Garden Show returns to the Rockingham County Fair Grounds this April 9-10 and this year ADMISSION IS FREE. The annual event that attracts exhibitors from cabinets suppliers and landscapers to contractors and architects is your one stop shop for all things construction. If you are thinking about renovating a kitchen, adding a Master Suite, or building a custom home, this show has it all. It is a great time to see many of those you will want on your construction project all in one place – plumber, hvac, builder, architect, cabinet supplier, plumbing and lighting vendor, and of course architect. You can see the latest innovations in the industry, talk with all the experts, and gather the research you need to make a wise decision. It is a must attend event.
Massanutten Technical Center
In addition, the show is a fundraiser for the Massanutten Technical Center. This school is training students to have real world skills upon graduating high school. They have exhibits through the day on Saturday. You can see the Mason’s laying brick, the nursing students do health screenings, and the architectural students show off their designs. Join them to bid on silent auction items or the live auction to help fund their future educations. This event is one of the major sources of funding for the school each year. Show your support and attend the show.
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank also has a food drive at the event with a twist of course.
“Canstruction Harrisonburg is an annual event intent on raising awareness of issues related to hunger in the region and on collecting canned food for those confronting a real struggle to find enough food on a day-to-day basis!”
Canstruction Harrisonburg is celebrating its second year and the competition is fierce. Teams will design and then build structures out of cans of food. The winners of the competition qualify to move on to the international Canstruction event. We are thrilled to have A&J Excavation, Nielsen Builders, and The Gaines Group as sponsors again this year. The event has grown from 2 teams to 9 teams this year. While we raised 2,478 pounds of food and 2,065 meals last year, we are looking for a lot more GOOD to happen this year.
Blue Ridge Architects Canstruction
Valley Engineering Canstruction
Classic Car Cruise-in
The annual Classic Car Cruise-Inis returning again this year. Bring your classic ride and cruise into the home and garden show in style. This annual event attracts over 100 of the coolest classic cars in the valley and is a highlight of the show. There is never a charge to the show when you cruise-in. Enjoy the music, fun, and friendships.
Homesteading Festival
New this year is the Homesteading Festival. Join us to learn about canning, local plants, gardening, backyard chickens, aging-in-place, rainwater harvesting, and how to make living off the land a little easier. This event will take place at the Home and Garden show next to the MTC pavilion.
Food Court
The SVBA Food Court is back with all the great treats. Mama’s Caboose, Sweet Treats, Mashita, and Vova’s Kettle Corn all have spaces reserved. Come to the show and enjoy some of the best food in the Valley.
Kid Zone
The kid zone sponsored by VBS Mortgage is back again this year. The kids love the bouncy house each year and the girl scouts of the valley will be there with face painting and crafts.
Support local business and get fresh flowers at the show. Randy’s Hardware returns to decorate the entrance gate and to bring loads and loads of fresh flowers. Come and brighten up your landscape.
The SVBA Home and Garden show is a great way to kick off your spring. You can gather information, purchase a few items, enjoy some great food, let the kids burn off some energy bouncing, and support Massanutten Technical Center. Mark your calendar and plan to attend!
I have written about this in the past – the most common question I get is how much does architectural design cost? It is a difficult question to answer so I completely understand that clients do not know what to expect. Perhaps a better question is what is architectural design worth?
Harrisonburg Depot
What is the value of these added levels of training?
Well, you have to decide if you want someone who is licensed to practice architectural or just someone who does design work. The first difference in a drafter and an architect is the training required to get licensed. An architect has to go to college for 5-6 years to study design, work for a licensed architect for 3+ years, and pass Architectural Registration Examinations. Architects are also required to maintain a current license that is regulated by the State where they practice and have to do annual education training.
How much is custom design worth?
Next you have to decide if you want a custom-house or just new construction. The difference is that a custom-house is designed specifically for you. It is developed by having multiple conversations with you in order to determine goals, aspirations, dreams, budgets, space needs, storage needs, and aesthetic goals. How much is custom design worth? It results in a home that is right sized, efficient, durable, and healthy. It results in only paying for the house you need and not more or less than what you need. It results in a more efficient structural system, use of materials, and lower energy costs.
So how much does architectural design cost?
Our designs result in savings per square-foot through construct-ability savings, reduced energy use, durability of materials, and savings on time you would otherwise spend doing selections that we streamline. The final cost depends on many factors; The national average runs between 8-15%. Locally, the rates are less than national averages for sure. If you have a project, call us and we can talk about it. We are happy to better answer the questions for your project.
Chesapeake Western Depot warehouse renovation has begun. While work continues on the office portion of the Depot, the roof and trusses are being repaired in the warehouse space. The majority of the fire damage in the building exists in this space. The entire roof is being replaced and many of the trusses will need major repairs. The transom window above the entry door has been re-glazed and put back in place. The new decking is being installed and the framing repaired.
“Architecture has to be greater than just architecture. It has to address social values, as well as technical and aesthetic values. On top of that, the one true gift that an architect has is his or her imagination. We take something ordinary and elevate it to something extraordinary.” ~ Samuel Mockbee
As an architect we have been trained to use our imagination to solve problems. This of course works when designing buildings. We create structures that are healthy, energy-efficient, and durable to benefit future generations as well as current occupants. We design buildings that enhance a site and offers aesthetic beauty. However, as an architect, our work does not stop at just buildings, we have an obligation to our community to design solutions to benefit everyone.
As architects we have the training to see solutions on a larger scale and offer holistic solutions. As architects it is our duty to be in service to others in every aspect of life using this training. There are many ways to serve the community – teaching, design, public service, mentoring, and volunteering with community organizations. I am proud to see the tradition of volunteerism that Ray embraces has resulted in our entire team working outside of the office to better our community.
I had a chance to stop by the Harrisonburg Sustainable Farmhouse project this week. Beck Builders is making great progress even with all the wet weather. The windows are flashed, the drywall hung, and the roof installed. I am looking forward to the interior finishes coming together. The house features high performance Marvin Integrity Windows, HVAC system, and insulation. Each room has lots of natural light even on a cloudy day. The wrap around porch will offer the appropriate shading in the summer for family gathering times. The walk-out basement has lots of storage. The views from every room in this building are incredible for being so close to in town. The low maintenance cementitious siding, metal roof, and energy-efficient design will make this a sustainable farmhouse for many years to come.
