Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale – Stewardship Building

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 13, 2026 | architecture, citizen architect, Empathy, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect

The most beautiful thing about the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale each year is seeing an entire community built for the day at the fairgrounds around a common cause – to do good in the world. It is a chance to catch up with friends, raise money for good work to happen, and enjoy amazing food. We always start with a breakfast that has the best sausage around. The day may also include donuts, ice cream, bbq chicken, Brunswick stew, homemade chips, pies, and cakes. Celebrating craftsmanship is another benefit of this event. Getting a chance to see the quilts, especially those that are hand sewn, is a treat. The woodworking done for this event shows off the skills of our area with beautiful furniture, trucks, and musical instruments.

The money raised at this event goes directly to relief, development, and peacebuilding efforts through Mennonite Central Committee. This directly aligns with our mission as an architectural firm to use design to build a better community for everyone. We also strive to design spaces that bring people together – so just sitting and watching how the fairgrounds becomes that space for the day is educational. Watching the teamwork of an auction, the coordination of volunteers for food, the movement of people through spaces all feed our imagination of what and how we can design spaces.

To all those that gave time, money, and energy to make this day amazing, thank you. The preliminary totals show that more than $450,000 was raised which will make a huge impact on many lives locally and around the world. If you want to support the efforts, make a donation here.

Bridging: creating a bonded community

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 7, 2026 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, community, Empathy, family, Harrisonburg Architect, Leadership, Local Leaders

I have been reminded over and over these past three weeks that I need to step forward and do something. Our communities are not what I want them to be and I have a responsibility to try to change that reality. We have lost some of our bonded community that once existed. It was probably not perfect then and it will not be perfect in the future, but we need to get back to bonding as a communities. We need to find bridges across lines of age, race, social class, and political belief. Bridges that build social cohesion and shared purpose linking diverse individuals together for the common good.

In his book “Bowling alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community” Robert Putnam argues that the erosion of civic organization – from bowling leagues to PTAs to Rotary Clubs has severely depleted America’s supply of “bridges of social capital.” When these civic organizations thrived, active conveners provided neutral physical and social spaces that prevented retreat into like minded echo chambers. Conveners actively counter the decline of bonded communities by creating shared tables where diverse perspectives can be interacted with face-to-face. When this happens in a structured dialogue communities grow and prosper. Community members start acting in ways that help others without expecting something in return, just trusting that community will be there for them too if needed. This approach breaks down stereotypes transforming ideology about groups into neighbors with recognizable human concerns. Local challenges become community challenges where cross-sector conversations deliver buy-in for the greater good.

Negotiations are built on relationships and trust instead of a win-lose scoreboard. Larger concerns in the community can be discussed before quick action is needed providing time to evaluation, research, and conversation.

Rotary is one place that I see this work happening weekly. I am 100% convinced that we need more voices at the table in Rotary, but those voices that are already at the table are building the community that I want to live, work, and play in. We just need to amplify and multiply those efforts across a larger area.

At our firm we are striving to build community through our work on community centers, accessible housing, childcare facilities, schools, offices, and even luxury homes. We look for ways to bring people together by adding front porches, finding spaces for gathering, and encouraging design for all. From aging in place to ADA to universal design to affordability to energy-efficiency to healthy strategies for buildings we are trying to find ways to bridge over divides and bring people together. We want to support conversation happening through sitting face-to-face and talking, to playing, to listening to music. So we also seek out pro-bono project with local non-profits that are doing this work. We volunteer, design, and donate money to organizations that are building community. We also do this work by showing up at events to network and have conversations, by mentoring students at all education levels, and by being supportive of each other within our firm.

There is more to do. I am feeling a call to work harder at brining conversation together across all boundaries. I am not sure yet what form that will take. I know it needs to happen for this community, our community, our commonwealth, our country, our world to be the place I want it to become for future generations.

If you want to have conversation and build bridges let me know. Perhaps a lunch is the next step. Let me come speak to your civic group. Invite me to talk to your students. Give me a chance to figure out the call I am hearing.

Lets build the bridges that bond our community together for the greater good.

October First Friday featuring Barb Camph – Musical Mosaics

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 23, 2026 | First Friday, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect

Please come out and support a local artist! Our First Friday in October will feature local legend Barb Camph.

October 2, 2026 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Series Name: Playing with Glass

Medium: Glass Mosaics

Artist Statement: I came to stained glass as a full-time profession in my late 40s, but I was attracted to the art several years earlier. The endless color variations, textures, and possibilities captured me! Color inspires me. Color energizes me.
I love to create. The act of creating is soothing and takes me to another place. And with my glass, I can create almost anything I can envision.
At the moment, I am crazy for mosaics. This started a couple of years ago in Costa Rica at my brother’s house. He and his wife encouraged me, found materials, and created projects for me. Since then, I have been fortunate to create pieces for sale, for public art and to decorate OASIS.
Where will this lead? Who knows! But I am so fortunate to be in an environment –family, clients, and Harrisonburg — which encourages and supports my art.

Artists Bio: I learned the craft of stained glass in the 1980’s, when we lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. At that time, it was a hobby but when we moved to Portugal in 1995, it became my business. I have had many people help me along the way while I learned the business of art.
Several years ago, when I moved to the Harrisonburg area I built the largest studio I could afford. It is decorated with wonderful creations as well as a huge selection of art glass. It is home to two kilns, one of which I have had for almost 40 years!
I often say that “the glass talks to me”. I am so fortunate to be able to work with glass and indulge my creativity.
In Portugal, I taught stained glass every week. In Panama I taught less frequently but did continue to teach. I stopped teaching the art of stained glass when I moved to Harrisonburg since there is already a teaching studio. However, I started teaching mosaics to kids (at the Arboretum and for On the Road Collaboration) and to adults (in my home studio, at my OASIS studio and under the sponsorship of Parks and Recreation).

*Accessibility Note: This building was previously restored from a fire. The elevator shaft is currently not functioning and there is an absence of ramps in the space. Because the show is on the 2nd floor, this may pose an issue for those who have mobility challenges. We are aware of this need and we apologize greatly if this changes your ability to attend.

This event is free and open to everyone. Snacks and refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there!

Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour of the Depot!

Harrisonburg Art and Architecture Walking Tour

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 22, 2026 | architecture, Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, community, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect

We created a Harrisonburg Art and Architecture walking tour and want to share it with you. We still need to add names of architects of some of the buildings that make up the fabric of our town. Please help me complete the tour, send me any missing information or corrections. We also want to add in some interesting stories that go along with the buildings and art. If you are the artist, building occupant / owner, or have just been around a while and have a story to share, let me know. We want to make this tour as inclusive as possible.

Special thanks to the photographers on this project: Hannah Hendricks and Monica Espinoza!

Check it out here. Maybe you will find something new on the list in downtown that you did not know about from Caverns, to Green Book, to Love and Romance?

The Veranda, Luxury Cabin Architecture

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 18, 2026 | architecture, Commercial Architect, Custom Home, Harrisonburg Architect

The design of this luxury cabin was focused around providing an amazing experience for all the visit the property. Our client asked us to use the same layout that worked well on the Sadana Cabin but to change the architecture to provide something new. This idea of maximizing investment but also allowing for interesting design is a fun challenge. We looked at a few different forms the cabin could take. We wanted to capture the views, create a warm and inviting space, and keep the build economical for our client. I think the result is beautiful.

The ceiling vault pulls your eye to the views and really opens up the space. It feels good. That was certainly a top goal and walking through the space confirms it. This luxury cabin retreat checks all the boxes for those looking for a relaxing and comfortable place to stay.

The views from the hot tub at night make it all pretty special.

The interior finishes set the tone with rich colors and clean lines.

We are really happy with how this luxury cabin turned out and are thankful for Beck Builders for executing the plan and our client for trusting our team!

Industrial Architecture Requires An Integrated Team

by Charles Hendricks | Sep 17, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg Architect, industrial architecture, Interior Design, Office Culture, Roanoke Architect

In the industrial and manufacturing industry downtime is the ultimate enemy. Efficiency and productivity are key elements to success. When an industrial facility needs renovation, expansion, or completely new space the plant manager’s concern is downtime, disruption, and safety risks that all impact productivity, wellness or employees, and the bottom line. In this type of work downtime is not a luxury that can happen and a slow disjointed design process will not work.

We approach industrial design like our other projects, without ego, listening for challenges and opportunities, and thinking about which partners will deliver the best success for our clients. We want to approach every project as an integrated team: owner, architect, contractor, engineer, and other stakeholders depending on the need. We don’t work in a silo that will slow the project. We know that minimal disruption ensures the best outcome.

Our designs all start by sketching out the idea after listening to our clients’ goals and analyzing the opportunities. We learn how products flow through a space, where potential bottle necks occur, and how departments communicate. Working with our client we hear from leadership, managers, operators, and their clients when needed to understand fully how their business moves. The granular questions are often the most telling: Where are the existing safety pitfalls? Does product bottleneck now? How does the assembly line sequence work and could it be better?

Learning how the facility operates helps us provide guidance on the changes needed. Even in new construction, we need to understand the flow of materials and people. The site access, circulation both interior and exterior, and vertical and horizontal shifts all feed the best solutions. We are not just designing a shell; we want to provide design for highly functional machines that complement the optimized workflow.

Our designs also ask the question, how will the team using the space feel about the space. Is it safe? Comfortable? Even Fun? Providing a space with healthy indoor environmental quality promotes employee retention and productivity. Bringing in daylight strategies where possible along with proper ventilation and zoning can help employee morale. This can also reduce fatigue and potential for safety challenges.

When time is the critical element which it is in most of our industrial projects, using an integrated approach to design saves time, money, and smooths out the unknown. It allows our design team to work hand in hand with the contractor, engineers, and clients to deliver the highest and best solution.