Top Blog Post of The Month – October 2025

Oct 5, 2025

May First Fridays at The Depot Featuring One Of Our Own!

by Lindsey Kohler-Austin | April 24, 2026 | artwork, First Friday, Harrisonburg | 0 Comments

As always, this event is free and open to everyone, and refreshments will be provided by Gaines Group Architects. Series Name: LO•CAL Medium: Traditional and Instant Film Photography Artist Statement: "I moved to Harrisonburg from Northeast Ohio eleven years ago. In...

A Hand to Hold

by Lindsey Kohler-Austin | April 17, 2026 | community, Harrisonburg, Mentorship, team | 0 Comments

When you get older, it’s easy to forget about the things you saw as challenges when you were younger. As we grow up, we encounter new challenges to overcome; they’re daunting, scary, overwhelming and even exciting at times; but as we tackle our challenges and get the...

Celebrating Our Very Own, Nicole Rowe!

by Lindsey Kohler-Austin | April 13, 2026 | Harrisonburg | 0 Comments

If you’ve been following us on Instagram lately, noticed our new ad in a local magazine, or felt a little more "connected" to our office life through your screen, you’ve seen the work of Nicole Rowe. While our architects spend their days focused on blueprints and...

In Their Own Words: The Impact of Job Shadowing

by Charles Hendricks | April 12, 2026 | Charles Hendricks, community, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Intern, Mentorship, team | 0 Comments

You don't have to guess whether taking the time to mentor makes a difference. The students who have walked through the doors of The Gaines Group speak volumes about the impact of these experiences:David Martin, a Virginia Tech architecture student, spent a summer...

It Takes Little to Be Big

by Charles Hendricks | April 10, 2026 | Mentorship | 0 Comments

Mentoring doesn't require you to have all the answers or to design a flawless curriculum. Often, it simply means offering a listening ear, sharing your realistic day-to-day experiences, and answering questions with patience.Whether it is bringing a student into your...

Gaines Group Architects Named Top Employer for Interns!

by Lindsey Kohler-Austin | April 9, 2026 | Charles Hendricks, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Intern, Leadership, Mentorship, Office Culture | 0 Comments

I remember my first day at the firm. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived. I knew autocad. I had an architectural degree. I had worked various jobs since I was 12, but this was the first office position. The first time that I was being asked to draw things and...

Celebrate Architecture Week at the Depot tonight!

by Charles Hendricks | April 3, 2026 | architecture, citizen architect, First Friday, Harrisonburg Architect | 0 Comments

It doesn't seem like Easter weekend but that is what the calendar is telling me. It also doesn't seem like First Friday, but here we are on a First Friday. The artists this month are architects. So far I have Eugene Stoltzfus and Gaines Group with work on the walls. I...

Welcome to the Team, Rachel Bernstein!

by Lindsey Kohler-Austin | April 1, 2026 | Harrisonburg, Interior Design, Intern, team | 0 Comments

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...

Mentorship in Action at The Gaines Group

by Lindsey Kohler-Austin | March 20, 2026 | Leadership, Mentorship | 0 Comments

Mentorship requires opening up your daily life to eager, curious minds. Firm members at The Gaines Group consistently adapt their job shadow programs to fit the specific goals of each student—whether that student wants to verify their passion for architecture or...

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

by Lindsey Kohler-Austin | March 18, 2026 | community, Indoor Air Quality, Not used, resources | 0 Comments

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...