Charles Hendricks joins the CSI College of Fellows

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 8, 2025 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, Construction Specifications Institute

I am honored to be included in the 2025 Class of CSI Fellows!

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) has welcomed me as a valued member since joining in 2003. This organization allowed me to contribute immediately regardless of my years of experience. This gift has allowed me to advance my career and hopefully make a difference in the lives of others.

Fellows in CSI are selected by their peers based on their achievements in the industry and above-and-beyond contributions to CSI at the National, Regional, and Chapter levels. The distinction of Fellow is one of the highest honors given to a CSI member.

The nomination statement for Fellowship in CSI is based on my work as a mentor, advocate, and educator within the construction industry. CSI gave me a voice even as a new member when I started a student chapter of CSI at the UVA School of Architecture right after joining the organization. I have since served at the local chapter level, participated in organizing Region Conferences and multiple trade shows, taught Construction Document Technology (CDT) classes, served on multiple regional and national CSI committees, and presented at National Conferences many times. This organization trusted me to learn and grow as a leader in the construction industry and allowed me to make mistakes along the way. The power of this organization is that it brings all sectors of the construction industry and all levels of experience to the table as equals. The members of this organization have consistently shown up to support my career growth, helped me build skills and confidence, and been there to answer questions along the way. I am forever grateful for what this organization’s members and staff have done to support me.

The work I have done that is being recognized through this honor is an outgrowth of the skills CSI allowed me to develop. I have been able to offer mentorship to students from elementary school level through college, presented over 185 lectures on sustainability and universal design across the country, and taught a variety of classes focused on architecture. I have organized a variety of educational events, regional conferences, and trade shows, and have brought in experts to share their knowledge. In addition, I have supported and guided other professionals to help them better understand building science, sustainability, and universal design. I have also learned over the years that I can give my time and design skills through board service and pro-bono design to help them better serve our communities.

Reading through the nomination package for Fellowship that Ray Gaines and Adrienne Stronge took the time to produce (many thanks to them) feels a bit bittersweet. I have put time into many things that I believe have made a difference in the lives of others. However, I don’t feel like I have done enough, as we still have so much to achieve in this world. I remain dedicated to community service, outreach, and advocacy for a better future for all. While this honor is amazing and I am looking forward to the ceremony and celebration on October 16th in Cleveland, Ohio, I am simply doing my small part to build a more vibrant and inclusive world and hoping I can encourage others to join in that effort.

Congratulations to Arthur Cam Featherstonhaugh IV, FCSI, CDT, Thomas Lanzelotti, FCSI, CDT, and Randall Lewis, FCSI who are also included in the 2025 class of CSI Fellows. It is a true honor to join you and all the Fellows that have come before us in the Construction Specifications Institute.

Please Join Us in Congratulating Charles on this Monumental Achievement!

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! We are so excited for you Charles!
-The Gaines Group Team

Iron Sharpens Iron: Communication and Knowledge-Sharing

by Charles Hendricks | Aug 8, 2025 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, Green Building, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect

The most important element of successful custom home building is communication. One way we do this is by sharing our knowledge of building science with contractors, educators, students, and community groups.

Recently, Beiler & Co. in Winchester, Virginia invited Charles Hendricks and Nicole Rowe to meet their team and talk about high-performance custom design. Tyler Beiler and Charles have a strong track record of projects in the past and have learned to trust and respect each other. This opportunity brought together Tyler’s team along with Southland Insulation and Gaines Group Architects to talk about lessons learned, building science, and how to deliver the highest value to our clients. This is an example, as Tyler puts it, of “iron sharpening Iron:” bringing together three excellent teams together to build each other’s knowledge base.

The presentation Charles prepared encouraged conversation about building science, how high-performance HVAC and airtight insulation provide added value to a custom home design. He also talked extensively about indoor air quality, durability, energy-efficiency, and the importance of using local building products. The concepts shared encouraged conversation as Tyler’s experienced team asked questions, added insights, and talked about their lessons learned as they build high performance custom homes in the northern Shenandoah Valley. George Dimitrew with Southland Insulators was able to add expertise about available products, solutions used by his firm, and the efficiency of different insulation strategies.

Charles frequently shares his expertise on building science with contractors, community groups, college students, and even other architectural firms. His list of recent presentations includes stops at James Madison University, University of Virginia, Construction Specifications Institute of Central Virginia, Rotary Club of Rockingham County, Half Moon Education, NEED, Massanutten Technical Center, Hollins University, Sunnyside Retirement Community, Eastern Mennonite School, Young Architect Conference, and the Department of Energy. He welcomes all invitations to talk about adding value to your home through an application of building science, helping to create a healthier, more energy-efficient, and durable future.

Supporting BBBSHR is a strategic business strategy

by Charles Hendricks | Jul 11, 2025 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, community, Harrisonburg Architect, Local Leaders, Office Culture

We love supporting community organizations that are doing amazing things in our community to build a brighter future for everyone.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Harrisonburg Rockingham

Businesses in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County isn’t just about good corporate citizenship; it’s a strategic investment with tangible benefits. Investing in BBBSHR offers a variety of advantages that can directly benefit your company.

Enhanced brand reputation and customer loyalty: Consumers are more likely to support businesses that demonstrate social responsibility.
Increased employee engagement and retention: Employees, especially younger generations, are increasingly seeking purpose in their work. Offering opportunities for them to volunteer as “bigs” or participate in corporate giving initiatives can boost morale, foster teamwork, and improve job satisfaction, leading to lower turnover rates.
Valuable marketing and PR opportunities: Sponsorships of BBBSHR, like Bowl for Kids’ Sake, provide excellent visibility for your brand.
Networking and community connections: Involvement with BBBSHR connects your business with other civic-minded leaders, organizations, and community members, fostering valuable relationships and potential collaborations.
Tax benefits: Many forms of corporate giving can offer tax advantages.
Corporate social responsibility: Partnering with BBBSHR provides a clear and impactful way to fulfill your company’s CSR objectives.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Harrisonburg Rockingham 1

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County (BBBSHR) creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships between caring adult volunteers and children facing adversity in our community. Their mission is to ignite the power of youth, leading to improved academic performance, increased self-confidence, and avoidance of risky behaviors.

Citizen Architect Awards

by Charles Hendricks | May 24, 2025 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, Charlottesville, citizen architect, Harrisonburg Architect, Leadership

We are honored to be recognized for the work you allow us to do. I have learned over these years all that I am able to do as an architect is only possible because of our team, clients, and community. The reward of being able to design in service to others is the core factor that drives me to work harder each day to be the best possible citizen architect. With our team united towards a common mission of building a better community for all through design I know we are doing good work for our community. To gain public recognition for our work is the cherry on top. Thank you for your support for the work we do as our clients, friends, and community partners.

Each year Virginia Living Magazine hosts a Best of Virginia survey of their readers with 107 categories naming 1,605 winners across the various regions of the commonwealth. We are proud to be named the best Architectural Firm in the Shenandoah Valley region in the 2025 survey. This honor is directly from our clients, friends, and community supporting us through voting. So thank you for elevating us to first place for the first time in this reader survey.

We were also honored to be included in the Top Rated Local 2025 list as the #1 rated architectural firm in Virginia. This award ranking comes from an analysis of our online ratings on Google, Houzz, and Facebook. We count on our past clients to share their experiences through online reviews and word of mouth to grow our company and earn our next client. This award is meaningful because it reflects the trust you have in us. Being the top online architectural firm in Virginia is an amazing award! Thank you for your support.

Once again Charles Hendricks has been named one of the top 100 Architects by Fixr.com. Each year, Fixr.com celebrates the architects shaping the future of residential design across the U.S. In 2025, 100 influential architects are highlighted for pushing boundaries and redefining how Americans experience their homes. From award-winning projects to thought provoking leadership, these professionals inspire innovation and elevate residential architecture, making lasting contributions to the future of home design.

About Fixr.com:
Fixr.com is a leading resource for home improvement and remodeling advice. By connecting homeowners with top professionals and offering comprehensive cost guides, trend analyses, and industry insights, Fixr.com empowers users to make informed decisions about their homes. The company publishes annual expert rankings and trend reports to spotlight excellence and innovation across home-related fields.

Finally we are thrilled to be named a VTOP Top Employer for Interns in 2025. This Award celebrates internships that employers provide to help train the next generation. We work hard to offer the appropriate mentorship in our firm to allow each of our team to grow to be their best self. We also provide job shadow opportunities for high school and college students when paid options are not available. This effort has grown from the saying, be who you needed when you were younger, one of our driving values. This recognition through the VTOP program for a second year solidifies that we are doing the work needed for a better future for all.

So thank you for all four of these recognitions. Without your support we would not be able to serve our community.

We need joy to live, otherwise we are just surviving

by Charles Hendricks | Dec 31, 2024 | Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, community, Empathy, family, Holiday, Leadership, Local Leaders, Office Culture, Rotary, team

I have been selecting a word of the year for several years now, instead of making a resolution that I forget about before the first week of January comes to a close. It is not always a word that guides me during the year, but focusing on a word has had some power a few times as I was going through some rough patches in life. Grace is a word that I have adopted a few times and I feel like I have grown a lot into accepting things I cannot change and giving myself grace along the way. After a rather rough 2024, I think I need to focus on a new word for 2025. As I look to the year ahead, I know there will be challenges, but I am going to focus on joy this year. I am going to try to allow the frustrations and challenges in life to have less weight than the joy that I will have this coming year. I know I have a blessed life and have been given many opportunities that others have not been given. As I think back over the past year and all the challenges faced, I can see there was more joy than frustrations, I just gave the frustrations power.

In an effort to remember joy first, here is a list of some of the things that brought me joy this past year.

I got to see the Northern Lights for the first time. One of my clients shared images from his home under construction.

My youngest daughter graduated high school, traveled to Europe, and found the right college for her next chapter. My oldest daughter continues to thrive, impress, and conquer the world. They are both wonderful humans and bring me joy on a regular basis.

I got to celebrate Mariya as she entered the next chapter of her life while hanging out with some of our awesome Harrisonburg team members.

The MTC foundation formed and held its first fundraising event. I was able to support the event through social media promotion and giving time to the organization.

I got to see the Orioles win over the Yankees in dramatic fashion and share the experience with family (not all of which were thrilled with the outcome of the game). We also got to see a lot of fish, which is fun, and should always be part of a baseball game trip to maximize joy.

Another year of supporting WNRN’s books and brews was a highlight, especially when one of the authors is also one of your clients.

We got to see the finished cabin in West Virginia, the saved historic building in Broadway, the saved porch in Rockingham, the modern house in Rockingham, got a new office in Charlottesville, and started another project at Eastern Mennonite School – all of these and those not mentioned (especially those cool houses we have under construction that I will do updates on later) bring so much Joy!

Fireworks are fun and I had the chance to enjoy some thanks to Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and the Downtown Lottery. If you like fun things like fireworks you should support HDR too. Downtown also got a lot of new art work to fill our town with joy.

I made it to the Hot Air Balloon festival this year and the weather was nice enough that the balloons got to float away.

Our Rotary Club does amazing work allowing me to serve community through so many events including the Harrisonburg Soapbox Derby and partnering with We Serve at Eastern Mennonite High School to stuff stockings and clean up the highway. The best part of Rotary are the friendships we get to build and the difference we can make together in our community. The sense of joy in making our community better is endless.

We were able to host 12 artists for First Friday and I think they all made a least one sale at their shows. If nothing else, we added exposure to their work and celebrated the beauty of art creation in our community. Supporting local artists is a great source of joy.

I was able to attend a lot of musicals this year including Beetlejuice, Twelfth Night, Tina, Fiddler on the Roof, and Annie. Regardless of what you heard, I enjoy going to see these talented performers.

Dad and I attended our first JMU Men’s basketball games and they won.

I got to attend some amazing concerts to see some amazing talent including Judy Chops, Who Shot John, Wood Brothers, The Steel Wheels, Christone Kingfish, AJR, Almost Monday, mxmtoon, Nickel Creek, Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, EMS Touring Choir, and more.

The Harrisonburg Rockingham Child Day Care Center opened! You want JOY, visit a daycare.

Our clients fast food oriental restaurant finished construction and opened and I got to eat some of their amazing food!

Red Wing Academy brings me so much joy each year playing at our First Friday event in December.

I got a Charlie Brown cake for my birthday!

Our Rotary Club took on the challenge to plant new Peace Poles in the community and register existing Peace Poles on the international Peace Pole map. This effort is so fulfilling, spreading Peace in our world that is so focused on violence. The Peace Pole is an internationally known symbol of Peace and stand as a daily reminder that we each have a role in spreading Peace on Earth. True Joy comes from helping build a stronger community.

I love mentoring, teaching, and sharing about architecture, building science, aging-in-place, using empathy as a design tool, and of course the history of the depot. This past year we hosted job shadow students in our office. I also had the chance to teach at Massanutten Technical Center. On the Road Collaborative students visited our office as did the Bridgewater historical society. We had the Central Virginia chapter of AIA visit the office to hear about our work.

Probably the best joy filled highlight of the year for me is how many times I have had a crowded table at my house filled with family or been invited into April’s house to join her crowded table. It is an awesome blessing in my life to have such a large group of family so close and we even got to spend some time with family from out of the area this year. I may not be the best cook around, but with April by my side (who is an excellent cook), we were able to make several meals that kept everyone happy this year.

Finally, what could be more joy filled that hanging out with Santa! Even better, finding out once again that I am Santa’s favorite Architect.

Photographers work in this blog post include Digital Minerva, Charles Hendricks, Asha Beck, and Herr and Company.

Promoting peace and understanding among people of all cultures and backgrounds

by Charles Hendricks | Dec 27, 2024 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, community, Empathy, Leadership, Local Leaders, Office Culture, Rotary, team

As we start a new year it is hard to resist the temptation to think about the difference we have made in this world. We are provided with many opportunities as architects to solve design challenges for our clients and friends. We get to find solutions that reduce impacts on our environment and improves resiliency for the future. It is an awesome profession if you are passionate about our world and all the living creatures on it. However, our work doesn’t have to stop at the built environment. We are part of a larger community and are able to use our social power and time for good. On January 1st we celebrate world day of Peace. At times it feels like we have almost no ability to make a large change and Peace is one of the largest.

The Rotary Club of Rockingham County took on the challenge to register existing Peace Poles in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and to plant new ones. Rotary Clubs from across the valley are joining this effort let by our district Governor Bret Hrbek. We are seeing Peace Poles pop up across the valley with the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” The Rotary Peace Pole Project is a global initiative by Rotary International to promote peace and understanding among people of all cultures and backgrounds.

What is a Peace Pole?

A Peace Pole is a simple yet powerful symbol of peace. It is typically a pole with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” inscribed on it, often in multiple languages. These poles are installed in public spaces like parks, schools, and community centers.

The primary goal of the Rotary Peace Pole Project is to:

Inspire Peace: To inspire individuals to think about peace and its importance.
Promote Tolerance: To foster tolerance and understanding among different cultures and beliefs.
Encourage Action: To encourage people to take action to promote peace in their communities and the world.

By planting Peace Poles, Rotary clubs and individuals contribute to a global network of peace and hope. These simple monuments serve as reminders of our shared humanity and the importance of working together for a peaceful future. Peace Poles are located in nearly every country around the world, including notable locations such as:

The North Magnetic Pole
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial
The Egyptian Pyramids in Giza
The Aiki Shrine in Iwama, Japan

Plant a Peace Pole

If you want to be involved in supporting additional Peace Poles in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County reach out to us and we can get you connected. If you want to plant a Peace Pole somewhere else in the world reach out and I will do my best to find the right connection for you. The more of us coming together promoting Peace the better world we will leave for our children. This may be the most important project I have taken on over my career and certainly the most important over the last year.