by Charles Hendricks | Jan 4, 2025 | architecture, citizen architect, community, Harrisonburg Architect, Local Leaders, Office Culture, team
VPAS Soup, Socks, and Sunshine drive for older adults is running from January 2nd – 17th. Our office (downstairs in the foyer) is one of the collection sites along with Visiting Angels, Town of Timberville Town Hall, and the VPAS Harrisonburg office! So stop by 141 W. Bruce st and make a donation this coming week of socks, soup, or a card / drawing.
This event invites you to donate Men’s and Women’s socks, cans of soup, and cards, drawings, and kind notes for older adults in our area. VPAS will distribute them to those in need of comfort and warmth this winter. This kind gesture will certainly warm the hearts of those receiving, but also those VPAS volunteers getting to give the donations out.
Valley Program for Aging Services. This non-profit organization provides a range of services to help older adults (60+) in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia live independently and with dignity. They offer information and referrals, case management, home-delivered meals, congregate meals, transportation, caregiver support, and wellness programs. In essence, VPAS plays a crucial role in supporting the well-being of older adults in the Harrisonburg area and beyond.
To learn more about VPAS and their services, you can visit their website at https://vpas.info/.
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 3, 2025 | architecture, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, project update
We have been fortunate to work on a variety of Daycare facilities this year. The Spanish Lab and Learning Center Daycare is another brand new facility that will open in 2025 in Harrisonburg.
This facility is going into an existing building that will require a few major changes to make it work efficiently for a daycare. The biggest challenge with converting an office building into a daycare is typically exterior egress access. In the case of this building, which had holding cells, the major challenge was thick concrete walls where you didn’t want them. We evaluated multiple buildings before finding this one that seemed to work just right for the new use. However, taking out a concrete ceiling and walls that were specifically designed not to come out proved to be a challenge. Fortunately our builder, Nesselrodt Construction, partnered with the innovative excavation firm Maust Excavating to figure out a simple way to safely remove the existing concrete.
As work progresses, the vision for this space is coming into focus. The Spanish Lab and Learning Center will get a dedicated entrance and the Daycare will have a separate entrance. The fenced in yard will make for a great playground and over time more equipment can be added. The classrooms will have lots of windows to invite in natural light where possible.
The additional of more daycare spaces in Harrisonburg is huge for our community. There are waiting lists everywhere for daycare and this prevents everyone who wants to work to get to work. Children who have the opportunity to attend a daycare are more prepared for kindergarten and have opportunities for growing social, emotional, and cognitive skills.
This particular daycare will provide for Spanish speaking skills to grow before ever entering kindergarten. Once you meet the owners of this facility, you will know that the care and quality it will provide will be the best.
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 1, 2025 | architecture, Bryce Resort, Harrisonburg Architect, project update
Another renovation / addition project is in the works at Bryce Resort. This home has served as a weekend getaway for years now, but our clients are starting to spend more time there and need new functional spaces added. We have done some preliminary design sketches to make sure we understood the space function and needs. This process helps coordinate the budget to the program to the priorities. Our next step was a site visit to determine how the grades will impact the design – so Aimee and I worked on figuring out how much slope exists on this home site.
The balance that happens in renovation work has to be done with a lot of careful planning or you end up with a lot of surprises during construction. Of course, there is almost always something uncovered during the demolition phase that is a surprise, but the more we can figure out on paper the less you will pay during the construction phase. We work hard to balance the client’s goals and budget with the existing construction and building site conditions. Our job is to listen well to the client’s goals and figure out a way to maximize the opportunity. Not only thinking through space planning and aesthetics, but also trying to figure out what details the builder will need to be as efficient as possible. Working on a steep slope lot there is not a lot of room to not have most of the answers in advance of the construction process starting.
Working at Bryce Resort on several projects now, we have gotten to know what materials and builders are available. There are a wide range of quality builders working on projects there and we always want the best qualified for our clients. Having a plan with all the details and goals before the builder sets the budget is one of the best protections our clients can have in construction. We have heard all the horror stories of construction projects that have gone wrong without the proper planning in place before construction – we help prevent those things that could go wrong from going wrong. Construction is complicated and there is no way to plan for every contingency, but a solid design in advance will deliver the most economical solution in the end.
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 30, 2024 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Historic Renovation
We have had the honor of designing renovation / additions for several of the beautiful historic homes on Franklin street in Harrisonburg over the years. Our approach to a project in a historic neighborhood is to figure out what is possible with the existing structure and the available budget, then to maximize the value added with the work planned. Sometimes working in existing homes there are really unique opportunities that we can highlight through design. Sometimes working in existing homes there are big challenges that limit the opportunities. We work hard to figure out what can be done on paper before construction starts.
We serve as our clients’ advocate and protection in all construction projects. This is even more important when working on a historic home. Hiring a builder to do the design and construction leaves you open to not having expertise to figure out if you are getting the best value. You may be giving up design options that the builder has decided are too complicated or not even thought of since they are not trained in design. You might be convinced to remove parts of the historic home that still have useful life in them because it will be easier. You might also simply be putting a new finish on an old problem.
To avoid creating problems in your historic home you should develop a plan that thinks through as many of the obstacles and opportunities as possible prior to construction. To offer the most protection for your budget and scope of work, have your architect involved through design and into the construction phase. We know what is possible and can give options should a surprise be uncovered during the demo. A team approach is the best way to maximize the value of your renovation dollars.
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 30, 2024 | architecture, Bryce Resort, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect
This unique home in Orkney Springs needed a little more space and a modest upgrade. We have been working with the clients to figure out the right finishes for the budget, the right space layout for the functional goals, and the right drainage strategy to manage water on the building site. Over the Mountain builders have been working hard to execute the plan and a lot of progress has been made. Jarod has been working hard with our clients and the builder to make sure the best value finishes are being used to achieve the design goals and that the builder has the right information to execute the plan.
Working through the design before construction starts is always the best process. However, this one ended up finishing drawings, starting construction, then finishing selections. Balancing the information flow is one of the areas where we provide huge value. Construction can be stressful and we can help minimize the strain, improve the communication, and keep everyone on the same page. The added challenge of spotty cell phone service when doing an Orkney Springs renovation project has benefited from our team stepping in to help more with communications. Every project we have is custom, this one needed us to adapt a little more hand-on designing during construction, so that is what we have done.
I think the primary design skill that any architect or interior designer has to have is being adaptable to the project’s needs. If you have empathy for your clients and their builder, this will come easy to you. We strive to always put ourselves in the shoes of clients and builders to maximize the communication and minimize the misunderstandings.
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 30, 2024 | architecture, Commercial Architect, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, project update
The Oriental Express and Catering restaurant is now open on Port Republic Road in Rockingham County. We loved working on this new concept restaurant and hope they are overwhelmingly successful. Based on our first visit there – they will be.
The food is awesome and the service is top notch.
When we started designing this new concept restaurant for our client, we were given a footprint by the civil engineer that limited our flexibility. We knew how much space we needed for a kitchen and refrigeration, but we had to figure out the flow and seating options. The style, color, finishes, and textures were all ready to be discovered. We worked hard to find the right mix that not only stood out to attract customers, but also to complement the food. The end result brought in fresh and bright colors underscoring the vibrant food options and quick service. This bright dining room invites you in to enjoy the space and the views. The bold colors give a youthful appeal to the space. I am thrilled with how it has come together.
If you have not been there to try the food, you should go, asap!
