Architect, family man, explorer, and coach; all of these are hats worn by Gaines Group team
member Paul Tassell. Paul began his career at the Gaines Group in 2002 and we are excited to
share more about him and his journey below.
Paul grew up in Albemarle County where from a young age, he was drawn to the arts. He
remembers spending much of his time sketching and drawing which snowballed into an interest
in architecture. Following this interest, he attended Virginia Tech to study architecture and
design. Through his studies, he enjoyed being exposed to architecture from both the artistic and
the building science side. During his 4th year, he had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to
Europe with the architecture department visiting 9 countries over 4 months. These travels greatly
influenced his appreciation of architecture and its global influences.
After graduation, Paul moved to Charlottesville to be close to his family and began his career
with the Gaines Group. His talent was quickly recognized, and he continued to grow within the
firm and eventually achieved his architectural license in 2016. As he reflects on his 20+ year
tenure thus far at the Gaines Group, he most appreciates working at a small firm that allows him
to work on every part of a project. He especially enjoys producing conceptual renderings at the
beginning of a project and figuring out the many building details.
Paul has been an integral part of countless projects but says his favorite was designing an
addition to his daughter’s preschool which is housed in a historical building in Charlottesville.
He also enjoyed working on the Minor-Nelson House addition which turned into an investigation
to recreate a historically accurate front porch and detailing.
Outside of being an architect at the Gaines Group, Paul spends much of his time with his wife
Linde and two daughters, Ainsley (9) and Mabyn (6). They are an adventurous family with a
history of being involved in both Boys and Girls Scouts. Their love for the outdoors has taken
them on many trips to Virginia State Parks, Yellowstone National Park, and even a visit abroad
to France. A soccer player himself, you can also find Paul on the sidelines coaching different
teams. “Coach Tassell” has been working with different skill levels since 2006 and has recently
been able to coach both of his daughters.
