Welcome to the Team, Rachel Bernstein!

by Lindsey Kohler-Austin | Apr 1, 2026 | Harrisonburg, Interior Design, Intern, team

We are excited to announce the latest addition to the Gaines Group Architects team! Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our new Interior Design Intern, Rachel Bernstein.

Rachel brings a unique, global perspective to our studio. A 2020 graduate of James Madison University, she holds a B.A. in International Relations with a concentration in Asian Studies and a minor in Chinese. Her journey has now led her back to the world of design, where she is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Interior Architecture and Design at the Academy of Art University (Class of 2028).

As an Interior Design Intern, Rachel will be working closely with our designer, Jarod, assisting across all phases of the design process. While she navigates her Master’s program, she will be immersed in our office workflow, learning firsthand how a project evolves from an initial concept to a completed space. “This opportunity is so exciting,” Rachel says. “From applying what I have learned in school to gaining new, applicable knowledge from the Gaines Group team, I know I am going to learn so much and begin to feel like a confident and knowledgeable designer!”

To get to know Rachel a little better, we asked her a few questions:

Where do you call home?

Harrisonburg is my home now—I have lived here almost 10 years! I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I also lived in Beijing, China, for a couple of years. I have been so lucky to love every place I’ve lived, so it’s hard to pick a favorite! But making Harrisonburg home has been great. It is truly such an amazing place; I feel so lucky to have found this little town.

What is a fun or interesting fact about your hometown?

Most people would mention Breaking Bad when talking about Albuquerque. But I’m going to say that the mountains there are called the “Sandias” because sandia means watermelon in Spanish. At sunset, the mountains turn a beautiful watermelon color.

What do you like to do in your free time?

You can catch me reading on my couch or spending time outside in any way possible. I have picked up mountain biking, and now that the weather is getting warmer, if I am not doing homework, I will most likely be on my bike in the forest!

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?

I have recorded a fake news segment with me as the anchor! I worked on a morning show in Washington, D.C., and on my last day, we did a mock recording where I shared stories I had written for the actual live news. It was really fun!

What’s your favorite TV show—the one you’re always watching on repeat?

Gilmore Girls. I am obsessed…

Rachel’s welcoming personality and diverse background make her a fantastic fit for our team culture. We are thrilled to have her on board as she grows her career in interior architecture. Next time you are in the office, be sure to say hello!

Intern Spotlight: Nicole’s Final Review at James Madison University

by Charles Hendricks | Dec 15, 2025 | Intern, team

Last week, our intern Nicole completed her final pin-up at James Madison University. Nicole is a senior this year, studying Architectural Design. This critique was even more exciting as our CEO, Charles Hendricks, had the opportunity to serve as one of the critics for her review.

Her project focused on a three-generational home designed to support grandparents, parents, a young child and their dog, within a shared framework that balances togetherness and personal retreat. At the center of her design are flexible gathering spaces that use large pivoting doors to open for family interaction or close to create moments of privacy.

Another meaningful aspect of the project is the inclusion of spaces for prayer, both collective and individual. These areas are thoughtfully integrated into the circulation of the home, creating intentional pauses throughout daily life.

The home is constructed from locally sourced interior rammed earth, grounding it in its Moroccan context while taking advantage of the material’s thermal mass to moderate the region’s hot, arid climate. Wooden accents and a woven screen façade add texture, shading, and filtered light as they wrap the exterior.

Throughout the project, subtle “light moments” appear through carefully placed openings that capture sunlight at specific times of day. Cross-ventilation, shaded thresholds, and breathable façade elements also support natural cooling, reducing reliance on mechanical systems.

Nicole’s design results in a responsive, climate-attuned home that supports the layered needs of a multigenerational family, an impressive culmination of her work this semester.