Project Update: The Elkton Castle

Project Update: The Elkton Castle

by | Aug 5, 2026 | aging in place, architecture, artwork, Building Science, community, Custom Home, Harrisonburg Architect, Interior Design, Not used, project update

Elkton Castle Project Update:

As architects we have the best jobs in the world. We get to listen to our clients dream about how they want to live, then we get to design a place to facilitate that dream.
 
Designing this home for our incredible clients is a great example. In the first meeting it was clear they had a strong idea of what they both wanted. They had a vision for their home, but were not sure how to put it together. So we listened, took notes, documented goals, sketched, tried again,  refined, and developed a concept for them.

While the home being built is designed around function, it is also what they described as their dream home. It allows for mobility, welcoming guests, and captures the incredible views. The dining room is designed for bringing family and friends together. The kitchen allows for gathering as well. There is a detached space to facilitate a hobby interest. There are outdoor gathering spaces including a fireplace, an outdoor kitchen, and a screen porch. The movie room is designed specifically for enjoying favorite movies at full volume. There are whimsical elements that highlight their personality. It is their dream home they described.

This home- or castle as we are calling it, is a prime example of designing a home to facilitate the dream life our clients want to live. Stay tuned for more updates including a magical wooden wardrobe.

Project Update: George’s Flowers Progress is Blooming!

Project Update: George’s Flowers Progress is Blooming!

by | Jul 21, 2026 | architecture, community, Not used, project update, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect

Project Update in Roanoke: George’s Flowers is Blooming!

We are really excited to see the progress taking shape at George’s Flowers near Tanglewood Mall. The existing building, which housed Audiotronics did not represent the innovative brand of George’s Flowers, so we jumped at the opportunity when he asked us to design a solution. The building, which was built with few windows to the outside, is being opened up to allow in the light, and so we can see all the cool things inside that George’s will create.

The interior spaces are being completely reworked to make this a functional and FUN place to work and shop. The display space will allow for even more must-have items to be displayed. The new coolers will keep the floral arrangements crisp and looking fresh. This is a straightforward commercial renovation that we hope will grab the attention of all who drive by, especially anyone who needs to grab some flowers on their way home from work!

This project is a great example of why you need an architect for your commercial renovation project. We have spent time listening to our client’s goals and working with the contractor and suppliers to make sure it all fits inside the existing building. The coordination with HVAC, plumbing, cooler suppliers, and the contractor has been key to keeping the project moving on a fast timeline so there is little downtime for this commercial business. We are maximizing the opportunities that the existing shell building provided and adapting it so it meets the image and reputation of this amazing business. Our integrated design approach that invites in the contractor team has reduced the timeline and questions during the build, which saves our client money and maximizes the contractor’s profit potential.

Stay tuned for more images of this conversion in Roanoke!

Intern Spotlight: Calvin’s First Year at Princeton

Intern Spotlight: Calvin’s First Year at Princeton

by | Jun 26, 2026 | Not used

Reflection, Experience, Knowledge

Join our intern Calvin, as he reflects and walks through his experience during his first year in Princeton’s architecture program.

After finishing my first year of college, there were many aspects of the experience that were different from the expectations I had a year ago. At Princeton, nobody can declare their major until the spring of their second year. Knowing this, I was expecting the opportunities offered in the architecture program to first-year students to be limited. However, the schedule is much more flexible than I anticipated, and I was still able to take three architecture courses this year: one theory course in the fall and two studios in the spring. Second-year students have even more opportunities; I am currently enrolled in one urban studies and two architecture courses for the upcoming semester.

Being an independent person who doesn’t like to ask for help, I was not expecting to be involved as much in the studio culture. However, I often found myself talking with classmates, both about our projects and unrelated topics. Each student has their own desk, which I believe contributes to the collaborative environment. On Sunday afternoons when I would often be by myself, I would take breaks and look at the work that my classmates had on their desks. Taking two studios this past semester taught me even more time management and planning skills than I already had. At the start of every week, I would create a schedule for what tasks I have to do each day, which helped me stay on pace to manage all my assignments and spread out similar work such as long readings. Planning my time well allowed me to keep up with my coursework, participate in club athletics, and work a few nights a week in the dining hall.

Both my studio classes involved interesting assignments that helped me think about architecture in different ways. The first, entitled “Geometry and Architectural Representation,” focused on abstract modeling and design. Over the course of the semester, I created a three-dimensional shape and built it as a model, drew sections and obliques of it, inverted it, and finally sheared and built a new split model. The second studio, “Introduction to Architectural Design,” focused on more concrete buildings that can be inhabited. For most of the semester, we were focused on designing a building for the train and bus station on campus. The professors slightly modified the site to include a slope and removed a side road to create elevation challenges.

Despite all the surprises, many aspects went the way I expected. My studio classes were challenging and time consuming, although very enjoyable. They were different from the worksheets, readings, or papers for other classes and working on them never really felt like doing schoolwork. Overall, I enjoyed my first year and am very excited to further my education in architecture.

July First Fridays at The Depot Featuring Erin Harrigan!

July First Fridays at The Depot Featuring Erin Harrigan!

by | Jun 22, 2026 | Not used

As always, this event is free and open to everyone, and refreshments will be provided by Gaines Group Architects.
 
Series Name: Where The Mountains Meet The Stars

Medium: Photography

Artist Statement: “I enjoy creative exploration and challenging traditional perspectives. You may notice that some of my photography has unique points of focus and what some may call “effects”. All of this is done directly in camera through the use of creative techniques and specialty lenses which include long exposures, light painting, tilt shift lenses and sometimes even free-lensing. I am always happy to share my work, techniques and processes with those who enjoy it.” 

 

Artist Bio: I am a Shenandoah Valley based photographer with a love for sun, sand and all things outdoors. Having lived most of my life in Baltimore, Maryland, the “outdoors”, for me, has always meant the Chesapeake Bay and urban cityscapes. After moving to the valley, I became captivated by the landscapes, wildlife and all of the stars! Photography began as a way for me to simply document the beauty that I was finding as I explored my new home. It has quickly become my outlet, my passion and my means for artistic expression.

 
*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 the Depot!

June Series: Light, Space, & Gathering

June Series: Light, Space, & Gathering

by | Jun 5, 2026 | Not used

Light, Space, & Gathering: A June Series on How Architecture Holds Life

Architecture is often described in terms of form and function, but its deeper language is quieter: light shifting across surfaces, the way land resists or supports a structure, how space gathers people without saying a word.

This June series explores architecture not as a static object, but as lived experience shaped by terrain, illuminated by light, and activated by human presence. Each entry isolates one idea, but together they build a continuum: from ground to gesture, from material to atmosphere, from line to life.

Learn how architects design beyond walls and roofs, using light, shifting geometry, tactile textures, and atmosphere to create spaces that truly come to life the moment people step inside.

How Land Shapes Design

Every project begins with resistance and permission, what the land allows, and what it refuses. Topography, soil, water flow, and orientation are not constraints but collaborators. Design starts here: not on paper, but in negotiation with ground.

Where Light Begins

Before walls define space, light already has a path. It enters, refracts, bends, and settles. Understanding where light originates in a site is understanding how architecture will feel at different hours, not just how it looks.

Texture, Tone, & Tactility

Materials aren’t just something to look at. They are things we experience through touch. Think about the roughness of raw stone, the warmth of smoothed wood, or the crisp chill of metal. Every surface changes how our body feels in a room. In this way, texture, tone, and tactility become a silent conversation between the architecture and the person inside it.

Geometry in Motion

We often think of geometry as something fixed and permanent. But in real life, shapes change as we move through a room over time. A long hallway isn’t just a straight line, it is a series of views and angles that unfold with every step you take.

Space in Atmosphere

Space is not empty, yet it is filled with humidity, sound, temperature, and light diffusion. The atmosphere is the invisible architecture that determines whether a space feels still, charged, or alive.

Spaces for Gathering

Gathering is not accidental. It is designed through thresholds, seating, scale, and openness. The best communal spaces do not instruct people to stay, rather they make leaving feel unnecessary

Space Meets Life

Architecture becomes real the moment it is used imperfectly: children running through corridors, chairs shifted slightly, light blocked by an open door. Life edits design continuously.

From Line to Life

A drawing is a possibility; a building is a negotiation. The journey from line to built form is where intention meets constraint, and where architecture gains unpredictability.

Light in Layers

Light is never singular. It reflects, diffuses, and overlaps across surfaces and materials. Layered light creates depth without physical complexity softening edges and expanding perception.

Movement Through Space

Movement defines architecture as much as structure does. How a body enters, pauses, turns, and exits determines whether space feels intuitive or disjointed.

Architecture in Context

No building exists alone. Climate, culture, history, and surrounding fabric shape meaning. Context is not background it is the silent framework every design responds to.

Light / Space / Form

At the intersection of all ideas sits the simplest truth: architecture is the relationship between what is built, what is perceived, and what is felt. Light reveals space; space defines form; form controls light.

The Architect’s Guide to a Spring Reset: Beyond the Broom

The Architect’s Guide to a Spring Reset: Beyond the Broom

by | Mar 18, 2026 | community, Indoor Air Quality, Not used, resources

As the sun begins to linger a little longer over the Blue Ridge and the first hints of green emerge in the Shenandoah Valley, our focus naturally shifts outward. Here at Gaines Group Architects, we believe a home is a living system—one that breathes, protects, and evolves with the seasons.

While “Spring Cleaning” usually conjures images of junk drawers and dusty baseboards, we like to view the vernal equinox as a vital moment for home stewardship. It’s the perfect time to ensure your sanctuary is performing efficiently, sustainably, and beautifully for the warmer months ahead.

1. High-Performance Hygiene: Check Your Seals

In our region, the transition from winter’s bite to spring’s humidity can be tough on a building’s envelope.

  • The Window Audit: Don’t just Windex the glass; inspect the tracks and weatherstripping. Dirt buildup can prevent a tight seal, letting your expensive conditioned air escape.

  • Airflow Integrity: Replace your HVAC filters. After a winter of closed doors and running furnaces, a fresh filter is the simplest way to improve your indoor air quality. Remember, the air leakage in your home might actually be making it dirty by pulling dust and allergens from your attic into your living spaces.

2. Protecting the Valley’s Heritage

Many of our favorite projects involve historic Harrisonburg gems. If you live in an older home, Spring is the season for a “check-up”:

  • Masonry & Mortar: Walk the perimeter of your home. Look for “spalling” (flaking brick) or cracked mortar caused by the winter freeze-thaw cycle. Addressing these small gaps now prevents significant water damage later.

  • Gentle Restoration: When cleaning original wood or stone, skip the harsh chemicals. We advocate for pH-neutral, eco-friendly cleaners that preserve the patina of historic materials rather than stripping them.

3. Water Management: The Architect’s Priority

Architecture is often in a battle against water. To keep your foundation dry and your basement healthy:

  • Gutter Cleaning: Falling debris from winter storms can clog your drainage system. Ensure your gutters are clear and, more importantly, that downspouts are directing water at least five feet away from your foundation.

  • The Grading Check: Take a look at your flower beds. If the soil has settled and is sloping toward the house, spring is the time to regrade it to shed water away from your living space.

4. Biophilic Refreshes

A “clean” home should also be an inspiring one. As the Valley blooms, bring that energy indoors:

  • Lighten the Load: Swap heavy winter drapes for breathable linens. This doesn’t just change the look; it changes the thermal gain of your rooms.

  • Indoor Air Gardens: Visit the Harrisonburg Farmers Market for native plants. They act as natural air purifiers, reinforcing the “biophilic” connection between our built environment and the natural world.

  • When choosing supplies for your spring refresh, opt for No-VOC options. We’ve often asked, ‘Is your home making you sick?‘—and reducing chemical off-gassing from cleaners and paints is the best place to start.

Stewardship is Design in Action

Spring cleaning isn’t just a chore—it’s an investment in the longevity of your home. By treating your house as a high-performance system rather than just a collection of rooms, you ensure it remains a place of comfort and sustainability for years to come.

Need a hand reimagining your space for the new season?

Whether it’s a sustainable renovation or a custom new build, we’re here to help you design a home that works as hard as you do.