Thinking of Building a Luxury Home in Central Virginia? (Part 2 of 5)

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 20, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Building Science, Charlottesville, Custom Home, Green Building, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Interior Design, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect

Phase 1 (1 or more months) of the design process, known as schematic design, is a discovery period for us and you. We look at the site, topography, sun orientation, views, septic field locations, well access, adjacent properties, and zoning / building codes. We are determining the rules for your dream home. If there are specific HOA or ARB requirements that we will need to follow it can drastically change the final outcome of the design. We want to make sure we know as much as possible about where your house will be located and what opportunities that affords us in the design process. Prior to and during this phase of analysis we need you to give us inspirational photos of what you like and even more importantly what you do not like.

We are going to ask you dozens of questions in this phase to figure out how you want to live in this new space. Who will get up first, who is messy, is there a large collection, antique furniture, things that take large amounts of space, meaningful heirlooms, artwork, patterns around daily life, special occasions, and even how and where you want to eat, sleep, play, work, read, and watch tv. It all plays into the design we will develop for you.

During this phase we will develop floor plans and exterior elevation sketches. We will explore massing, rooflines, and spatial flow specific to your building lot and house layout. We will get feedback on room sizes, circulation, and views of the Blue Ridge mountains, Massanutten peak, or Shenandoah River. We will talk about holidays and cooking and reading and resting. This work is done in 2D or 3D as needed for our clients. Most clients like the ability to see the building taking shape in a 3D model. The contractor that will most likely build the home should also be engaged in a design phase contract by the completion of this phase. They can offer preliminary high-level pricing to make sure we are hitting the budget target.

Thinking of Building a Luxury Home in Central Virginia? (Part 1 of 5)

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 19, 2026 | Accessibility, architecture, Building Science, Charlottesville, Custom Home, Green Building, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality, Interior Design, Massanutten Resort, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect

Introduction (Part 1 of 5)

Are you thinking about building a luxury home in Central Virginia? We have more than 38 years of experience designing for steep slopes, mountaintops, valleys, and more. We understand how to frame the views and deliver large glass walls while also thinking through the sun’s path and interior comfort. The hardest challenge we face right now is pricing uncertainty. We know where the market is now for a new home and will help you walk through the process to get the highest value solution by designing in efficient solutions that are architecturally astounding.

Deciding to build a custom luxury home in Central Virginia or the Shenandoah Valley is an exciting milestone. From capturing iconic Blue Ridge sunsets to designing a generational retreat in Albemarle or Rockingham County, the journey begins with thoughtful design planning. Our goal is simple: translate how you want to live into an enduring, high-performance architectural design while protecting your construction budget.

Proper design planning takes time to figure out the right path forward. To deliver the best designs we start by asking dozens of questions. We want to know more about the site, how you want to live in this new place, your regular routines and special occasions, and your budget. We want to know your construction budget before we start our work. We want your home to look amazing without having to pay a premium for design solutions that lose value day one. We fully document the design and goals, which also minimizes change orders and scope creep during construction further saving you money.

Renovation for comfort and energy efficiency

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 16, 2026 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality

The best place to start when you are doing a renovation is to make your home as air tight as possible. In an existing home this means looking at the attic first. Most people assume windows and doors are the largest air leaks and energy leaks, but typically it is the attic. Focusing on stopping the heat from rising out of your home (In summer, running your air conditioner cools the house, creating a temperature imbalance that pulls hot, humid attic air down through those same ceiling gaps) will reduce the remainder of the air leaks.

Stack effect is the rise of warm moist air inside of a home that pushes against the top ceiling while pulling in air from low points. This causes a pressure difference inside the home that naturally occurs causing air movement and increases air leakage. When doing energy retrofit in a home that has combustion appliances, be sure that each appliance has proper combustion air before starting this work.

The attic floor is 60 to 70% of your leakage into this space. Warm air naturally rises due to the stack effect, driving warm, conditioned air upward to the attic and through the vents. This creates a vacuum type effect that pulls in unconditioned air through all the other leaks in your thermal envelope. Key areas to seal include:

Attic Hatch or Drop Down Stair – this is often a big hole straight into living space and often with no insulation above.
Plumbing and electrical chases – areas where wires penetrate the drywall / plaster ceiling that run into interior walls are open chases to energy to escape.
Recessed can lights – these are large holes in the ceiling with no air sealing. If the budget doesn’t allow for replacing old recessed can lights with new fire rated and air sealed cans, then you can use fire-rated rigid foam boxes over them and caulk them tight to the drywall below.
Top plates – hard to get to these in an existing house, so it depends on the level of renovation you are doing, but this is the final spot for air leaks

Adding insulation is just part of an energy efficiency strategy as most insulations do not air seal. Air sealing comes first and is usually more cost effective.

Once you get a tight attic then look to your basement and crawl space. You have the lid on top, now you need to make the bottom air-tight. If you have a crawl space, encapsulation is the way to go. Seal the rim board where floor joists meet the outside wall. Add insulation to the walls and seal it all up tight with a vapor barrier. A crawl space should be conditioned, not vented – making it air-tight also keeps the critters out. If you have a basement, the work is a little different. You want to find any utility penetrations and make sure they are air tight. The rim and sill plates should still be insulated and sealed air tight, but again, it depends on the scope of the renovation and if the space is finished.

Next you should look at any ductwork in unconditioned spaces. Make sure it is air tight because it will pull in unconditioned air from unconditioned spaces and send it all around your home. Using mastic to seal the gaps and cracks is the only way to get them air tight. It is tedious work in an existing house, but will improve your energy efficiency and room comfort. You should not use duct tape, it does not work for this application. If you can also wrap those ducts in insulation it will be a benefit to the comfort of the rooms they supply and contribute to a lower energy bill.

Finally, look at doors, windows, and outlets. Caulk and weatherstrip any gap or crack. Make sure the windows and doors close tight. Take off the outlet covers and seal the box tight to the drywall. Add storm windows if you have single pane windows. Consider replacing old doors with insulated exterior doors.

It is hard to find the biggest leaks in a home, but that is the path to more comfort and lower energy bills. The first step for making a home more comfortable and energy-efficient is to call an energy auditor to get full audit – they will pay for themselves if you act on their findings. While we aren’t official energy auditors, we use professional diagnostic tools like blower doors and thermal cameras during our renovation planning.

Want to know more about making your home efficient and comfortable?

Give us a call today to schedule a consultation!

Sustainability stories #energygeekday

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 6, 2026 | architecture, Building Science, community, Green Building, green term defined, Indoor Air Quality, LEED

I first was introduced to the concept of sustainable design while studying architecture at the University of Virginia. We discussed how the architect’s decisions could impact the users experience, pocketbook, and health. In some of the classes we did a deeper dive on climate change and the impacts of human actions on the larger environment. We learned all the damage that was being done with the standard way we were building (code minimum). Then I started in the industry and found out that the industry liked things the way they were doing things. It was frustrating to know better solutions existed but not knowing enough to make them happen. So I returned to college to learn more.

At the University of Tennessee I was able to learn about building science, LEED, and practical applications of energy-efficient design. When I returned to the industry I found collaborators that were also interested in finding a better path for our built environment. Two decades have passed since then and we have been fortunate to participate in actions that help reduce the impacts our built environment have on the human causes of climate change. I don’t think we have done nearly enough, but we have done a lot. We have designed net-zero homes, added solar pv to commercial roofs, implemented transpired solar collectors on industrial projects, and created a carbon neutral home design. We have used LEED for certification of homes, community centers, and industrial projects. We helped usher EarthCraft into Virginia and have used the standards for multi-family, custom residential, and community buildings. We have met the standards for Energy Star Homes, used passive solar techniques, and provided energy reviews for 100’s of buildings. There is still much work to do beyond changing out lightbulbs to LED, adding solar pv, and understanding how and where to use specific insulation technique. We need to continue to evolve how we deliver design, educate why we do it different than previous generations, and advocate for better design.

AIA-CV Community building site visit – Kindlewood Phase II

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 19, 2026 | architecture, Building Science, Charlottesville, Green Building

Our team reviewing site plans on the street before heading into the active construction zone

In our #Charlottesville office we spend a lot of time making sure to get all the details just right on our drawings. We work hard to make sure our wall sections, plans, elevations, and details are clear, concise, and correct. We research, learn, and investigate to deliver the right solution for each project. However, no matter how much time we spend reading and investigating, there is no substitute for stepping onto an active job site to see architecture come to life.

As active AIA Central Virginia members we often get to collaborate and learn from our peers in the industry. This week we were able to join the AIA Central Virginia Emerging Professionals (AIA EP) group for an architect-led tour of the Kindlewood Phase II project under construction in Charlottesville.

We encourage and support continuous learning and hands-on field experience in our firm in order to drive our design process. You need to see what you have drawn (and what others have drawn) to learn and grow as a designer. Visiting an active construction site gives our team knowledge of complex conditions from structural, mechanical, and even the building envelope in actual execution.

Even beyond all the building science lessons that can be learned on a job site, joining in on AIA Central Virginia events fosters peer connections within the architectural and construction industry. Walking a job site with fellow members brings up questions and conversations that don’t happen in a single office. Different firms approach design from various angles and learning best practices is critical for the advancement of our profession. We can discuss challenges and successes while seeing the results of design in action.

Architects viewing interior drywall and window installation at Kindlewood Phase 2

Rooftop solar array installed for high-performance sustainable energy at Kindlewood Phase 2

We encourage and support continuous learning and hands-on field experience in our firm in order to drive our design process. You need to see what you have drawn (and what others have drawn) to learn and grow as a designer. Visiting an active construction site gives our team knowledge of complex conditions from structural, mechanical, and even the building envelope in actual execution.

Even beyond all the building science lessons that can be learned on a job site, joining in on AIA Central Virginia events fosters peer connections within the architectural and construction industry. Walking a job site with fellow members brings up questions and conversations that don’t happen in a single office. Different firms approach design from various angles and learning best practices is critical for the advancement of our profession. We can discuss challenges and successes while seeing the results of design in action.

One of our regular contractors for multi-family projects is also the contractor for this project. KBS, out of Richmond, VA, has a focus on high quality construction and is a strong collaborative partner. We are proud of their work on this project in the Charlottesville community and look forward to our next sustainable multi-family community we get to work with them on.

Getting out of the office to see sustainable architecture in action energizes our team. We love the community building approach this project took and the standards of design used. Congratulations to Grimm+Parker Architects on a very successful design and KBS on the execution of the vision. We know that your work will have a lasting impact on our Charlottesville community.

Our Charlottesville team, Lizzy, Adrienne, Izzy, and Emily in safety gear on the rooftop at Kindlewood

Designing for good with Habitat for Humanity New River Valley

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 16, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Building Science, citizen architect, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality, Multifamily Design

One of our favorite repeat clients is Habitat for Humanity New River Valley. Our core goal as a business is to use design to create a better future for all. Partnering with this organization fits our mission perfectly. This project, the Airport Road Townhomes, are designed for energy-efficiency, durability, and healthy indoor air. Those are our standards for every project. The Habitat model grows home ownership which benefits communities by creating a stable housing stock, providing workforce housing, and building neighborhoods. Airport Acres in particular provides an ideal location for families in walking distance to schools, childcare centers, shopping, and public transit.

The two-story craftsman style townhomes will feature three bedrooms with a focus on accessibility and visitability. Four of the unit are adaptable for home owners with disabilities or mobility challenges with aging in place features. The community includes a central green space to help build community.

Habitat for Humanity of the NRV is doing amazing work that is building a stronger community. The dream of home ownership is out of reach for many and their work, their clients sweat equity, and the communities support is changing futures. We are proud to partner with them to achieve our goal of building a better future for all through design.