Harrisonburg Architect & Interior Design Firm
Designing the Shenandoah Valley's favorite places to live, work, learn, and play. Schedule a Free ConsultationCall 540-437-0012The Gaines Group Architects has been part of Harrisonburg for decades. From our flagship studio in The Depot downtown, our team of architects and interior designers serves homeowners, business owners, developers, and institutions across the Friendly City and the greater Shenandoah Valley. Whether you’re planning a custom home in Bridgewater, a commercial renovation near JMU, a multi-family community in Rockingham County, or a thoughtful interior refresh in Massanutten, we’re here to turn your vision into a place that’s elegant, functional, and built to last.
Why work with a Harrisonburg architect from The Gaines Group
As trusted architects in the Shenandoah Valley, we’ve called Harrisonburg home for almost two decades. Where many of our team members live, and where we’ve been lucky enough to design across every kind of project the Valley produces. Working with The Gaines Group means a local presence backed by a regional firm, built around the values we lead with: integrity, budget control, and clear, timely communication.
Our Harrisonburg work spans homeowners planning their first custom build, experienced real estate developers adding to their portfolios, business owners reimagining their space, and institutions stewarding historic property. That breadth plays out across our portfolio. What every project shares is a process focused on listening, asking the right questions, and pulling every element site, structure, systems, materials, and interiors into a single, cohesive design.
Architectural and interior design services in Harrisonburg, VA
Residential architect — Harrisonburg, VA
Whether you’re building a custom home on a Valley farm property, renovating a historic home near Old Town, or planning an addition in Bridgewater or Dayton, our residential architects work closely with you and your builder to create homes that fit how you actually live. Every Harrisonburg residential project starts with a conversation about your site, your family, your lifestyle, and your long-term goals — then we design your luxury dream home.
- New custom homes and farm residences
- Whole-house renovations and additions
- Historic home restorations and adaptive reuse
- Outdoor living, accessory dwellings, and aging-in-place design
Commercial architect — Harrisonburg, VA
Commercial projects in Harrisonburg require a designer who understands the city’s mix of historic downtown fabric, JMU campus context, and a strong agricultural and manufacturing economy. The Gaines Group brings experience across office, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and mixed-use to every commercial project, designing spaces that strengthen your brand, support your team, and respect the buildings and streets around them.
- Office and professional space planning
- Retail, restaurant, and hospitality design
- Healthcare and wellness facilities
- Adaptive reuse of historic and existing buildings
- Tenant build-outs and renovations
Multi-family architect — Harrisonburg, VA
The Shenandoah Valley is growing, and multi-family housing is a critical part of that growth. Our team designs apartments, townhomes, and mixed-use residential developments that work for residents, developers, and the surrounding community. We balance unit efficiency, building performance, and neighborhood context. The result is housing that people are genuinely glad to come home to each day.
- Market-rate and affordable apartments
- Townhome and luxury apartments
- Mixed-use residential and live/work projects
- Senior living and student housing
Interior design — Harrisonburg, VA
Great architecture deserves great interiors. Our in-house interior design team collaborates with our architects from day one, so finishes, lighting, furniture, and millwork all reinforce the same design intent. We design Harrisonburg interiors for homes, offices, restaurants, retail spaces, and multi-family amenities — interiors that are beautiful in photos and durable for decades.
- Space planning and finish selection
- Custom millwork and built-ins
- Lighting, color, and material consulting
- Furniture, fixture, and equipment (FF&E) selection
Communities we serve from our Harrisonburg office
Our Harrisonburg architects design across the Shenandoah Valley and beyond, including:
- City of Harrisonburg — Downtown, Old Town, JMU area, North End, Park View
- Rockingham County — Bridgewater, Dayton, Broadway, Timberville, Elkton, Massanutten, McGaheysville
- Augusta County — Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft, Verona, Fishersville
- Page County — Luray, Stanley
- Shenandoah County — Woodstock, Edinburg, New Market
- Highland County and surrounding Valley communities
If you’re outside this footprint but still in Virginia, we’d love to hear from you. Our Charlottesville and Roanoke studios extend our service area across Central Virginia and the Roanoke Valley.
How we work
- Listen. Every project starts with a free consultation. We ask about your site, your goals, your timeline, and your budget. We listen carefully before suggesting anything.
- Design. Our architects and interior designers develop options together, so the building and the spaces inside it are conceived as one integrated design.
- Document. We produce thorough, coordinated construction documents that protect your budget and keep contractors aligned with the design intent.
- Build. We stay engaged through construction, answering questions, reviewing submittals, and visiting the site so the finished project matches what you signed off on.
Visit our Harrisonburg office
The Gaines Group Architects — Harrisonburg
141 W. Bruce St., Suite 201
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Phone: 540-437-0012
Our flagship Harrisonburg studio sits in The Depot — a historic brick building in the heart of downtown — just steps from Court Square, the farmers market, and the city’s growing roster of restaurants and shops. Visits are by appointment so we can give you our full attention.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an architect for a project in Harrisonburg?
For most custom homes, additions over a certain size, commercial work, and any multi-family project, the answer is yes — Virginia code requires drawings stamped by a licensed architect for many project types. Even when an architect isn’t required, working with one almost always saves money in the long run by catching problems on paper instead of in the field.
What does it cost to hire a Harrisonburg architect?
Architectural fees vary based on project type, size, and complexity. Most residential projects fall within an industry-standard range, and we’ll walk you through our fee structure transparently during your free consultation so there are no surprises.
Do you work with my builder, or do you have one you recommend?
Both. We work with your preferred builder, and we’re glad to recommend Valley contractors we’ve worked with successfully on past projects. The right builder depends on the project — we’ll help you find a good match.
How long does an architectural project take?
A typical custom home runs 6–9 months in design and 9–14 months in construction. Renovations and commercial projects vary widely. We’ll give you a realistic schedule at the start of your project and update it as things progress.
Ready to start your Harrisonburg project?
Schedule a free consultation with a Harrisonburg architect from The Gaines Group.