Gold Award in the “Universal Design” category from Qualified Remodeler’s 47th Annual Master Design Awards,
“Shepherdstown Grandparents’ House” in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 2025
This project transformed an existing 648-square-foot guest house into an accessible, self-sufficient residence. The renovations and additions address the challenges of aging-in-place while preserving and honoring the original design by Fernau + Hartman. Now, the finished project has a necessary degree of privacy from the nearby main house, but maintains its connection to the overall residential compound, allowing three generations of the family to interact, socialize, and support one another.
Gold Award in the “Addition More than $250,000” category from Qualified Remodeler’s 47th Annual Master Design Awards
“Razorback Ridge House” in Great Cacapon, West Virginia, 2025
This project involved the renovation and addition to a small cabin, transforming it into a new residence with modern, airy interiors that allow the family to enjoy the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. The judges described this project as an “architecturally skillful expansion / modernization of [an] old cabin building.”
Lucille Lozier Award from Preservation of Historic Winchester
“Rouss City Hall” in Winchester, Virginia, 2025
This award is given for the renovation of a significant structure retaining at least 75% of the historic architectural fabric.
Rouss City Hall is a Romanesque Revival-style building constructed in 1900, built to house government services, a courtroom, an ornate theater, and a Masonic Lodge. We removed all Postmodern and miscellaneous infill from previous renovations and exposed the original structure, revealing brick walls and arched openings, as well as newly uncovered cast iron columns, steel beams, a historic staircase, and wood joists. New construction was expressed in a distinctly modern manner to contrast with the Romanesque detailing. The design approach was to simplify Rouss to “then” (1900) and “now” (2019) built forms.
“Some of the most interesting things revealed during the City Hall’s renovation, Youmans said, were decorative iron support columns that were covered up during a previous renovation more than 50 years ago, artistic fresco designs on the walls, a steel beam that bore writing from the building’s original contractor and a long-hidden wooden staircase between the third and fourth floors.” — Brian Brehm, The Winchester Star
National Award for “Addition over $250,000” from Chrysalis Awards, for “Razorback Ridge House” in Great Cacapon, West Virginia, 2025
Award of Merit in the Small Project Architecture category from AIA Northern Virginia, for “Razorback Ridge House” in Great Cacapon, West Virginia, 2025
Citation in the Contextual Design category from AIA Virginia, for “Folly & Utility at the MSV” in Winchester, Virginia, 2024
Award of Excellence in Residential Architecture from AIA Northern Virginia, for “Shepherdstown Grandparents’ House” in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 2024
Design of the Year Award at Habitat for Humanity International’s 2024 Affiliate Conference, for “Norris Village Phase II” in Winchester, Virginia, 2024
Platinum Design Award from the 2022 Virginia School Boards Association’s Exhibition of School Architecture Competition, for “Emil and Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center” in Winchester, Virginia, 2022
Award of Excellence in Residential Architecture from AIA Northern Virginia,
for “Camp May” in Great Cacapon, West Virginia, 2022
Award of Merit in Historic Architecture from AIA Northern Virginia, for “Vibe Main Street Properties” in Front Royal, Virginia, 2022
Honor Award in the Excellence in Architecture category from AIA West Virginia, for “Crooked Bow Tie House” in Great Cacapon, West Virginia, 2021
Merit Award for Achievement in Architecture from AIA West Virginia, for “Mountain Run” in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, 2022.
Citation for Contextual Design from AIA DC, for “The Bell’s Building” in Winchester, Virginia, 2022.
Bronze Winner in the 2021 Brick in Architecture Awards, for “American British Country House” in Clarke County, Virginia, 2021.
Honorable Mention for Excellence in Residential Design from AIA Virginia, for “Crooked Bow Tie House” in Great Cacapon, West Virginia, 2021.
Pace Setters Award from Signatures of Loudoun, for “Loudoun School for Advanced Studies” in Ashburn, Virginia, 2021.
Award of Merit in Residential Architecture from AIA Northern Virginia, for “American British Country House” in Clarke County, Virginia, 2021.
Award of Merit in Historic Architecture from AIA Northern Virginia, for “Rouss City Hall” in Winchester, Virginia, 2020.
Award of Merit in Residential Architecture from AIA Northern Virginia, for “Crooked Bow Tie House” in Great Cacapon, West Virginia, 2020.
Award of Merit in Institutional Architecture from AIA Northern Virginia, for “Loudoun School for Advanced Studies” in Ashburn, Virginia, 2020.
Award of Merit from AIA Northern Virginia, for “The Bell’s Building” in Winchester, Virginia, 2019.
Citation in Urban Catalyst from AIA DC, for Vibe Main Street Properties (“The Weaver Building and “The Barnhart Building”) in Front Royal, Virginia, 2019.
Award of Merit from Preservation of Historic Winchester, for “The Bell’s Building” in Winchester, Virginia, 2018.
Bronze Award in Historical Renovation from Professional Remodeler Magazine, for “Red Gate” in Millwood, Virginia, 2017.
Jurors’ Special Citation in Institutional Architecture from AIA Northern Virginia, for “The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum” in Winchester, Virginia, 2016.
Award of Merit for Excellence in Residential Design from AIA Virginia, for “Orlean Americana” in Fauquier County, Virginia, 2015.
Honorable Mention for Excellence in Architecture from AIA Virginia, for “The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum” in Winchester, Virginia, 2015.
Honorable Mention for Excellence in Historic Preservation from AIA Virginia, for “Glen Burnie Manor House” in Winchester, Virginia, 2015.
Grand Award from Remodeling magazine, Commercial projects over $500,000, for “The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum” in Winchester, Virginia, 2015.
Honor Award in the 2015 Fairfax County Exceptional Design Awards Program, for “Linden Lane” in Falls Church, Virginia, 2015.
Merit Award for Historically Sensitive Renovation, Remodeling magazine, for “The Samuel Noakes House” Winchester, Virginia, 2014.
Award of Excellence in Historic Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for “The Samuel Noakes House”, Winchester, Virginia, 2014.
Award of Merit from Preservation of Historic Winchester, for “The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum”, in Winchester, Virginia, 2014. (Presented to the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum.)
The Ben Belchic Award from Preservation of Historic Winchester, for “The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley”, for interpreting the history of Winchester through the Glen Burnie House, in Winchester, Virginia, 2014. (Presented to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley)
Merit Award in Restoration, Custom Home Magazine, for “The Samuel Noakes House”, Winchester, Virginia, Fall 2013.
Patron’s Award, Preservation of Historic Winchester, for “The Samuel Noakes House”, Winchester, Virginia, 2013. (Presented to client/owner)
Sir John Soane Personality Award, Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, for “Loft Upon Cork”, Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, 2011. (Presented to client/owner)
Merit Award in Historic Resources, Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for “Loft Upon Cork”, Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, 2010. (Presented to client/owner)
Merit Award in Green (Sustainable) design, from Remodeling Magazine, for “Songbird Lane”, Frederick County, Virginia, 2010. (Presented to client/owner)
Award of Merit in Historic Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for Stoney Meadows, Rappahannock County, Virginia, 2010.
Award of Merit in Historic Resources, Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for “The City Meat Building”, Winchester, Virginia, 2009.
Award for Merit in Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for “Jocks, Nerds, and National Treasures” (The James R. Wilkins, Sr. Gallery of History and Art at John Handley High School), Winchester, Virginia, 2009.
Award for Excellence in Architecture, Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, for “The Old Frederick Country Courthouse”, Winchester, Virginia, 2008.
Award for Excellence in Architecture, Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, for The City Meat Building, Winchester, Virginia, 2008.
Inform Merit Award for Excellence in Design, Inform magazine, for “The Old Frederick County Courthouse”, Winchester, Virginia, 2008.
Award of Excellence in Historic Resources, Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for the “Cabin on Middle Ridge”, High View, West Virginia, 2007.
Award of Merit in Historic Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for “The Old Frederick County Courthouse” renovation and restoration, Winchester, Virginia, 2007.
Award of Special Recognition in Historic Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for “The City Meat Building”, Winchester, Virginia, 2007.
Carroll M. Henkel Award, Preservation of Historic Winchester, to Beth Reader and Chuck Swartz, for their contributions to the appropriate reuse of the built environment of Winchester, 2007.
Award of Merit, Preservation of Historic Winchester, for “The City Meat Building”, Winchester, Virginia, 2007.
Design Award, Signatures of Loudoun Design Excellence Program, Loudoun County Department of Economic Development, for the “Wheatland Farms Log Cabin”, 2007.
Award of Excellence in Historic Resources, from the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for “The Old Frederick County Courthouse” renovation, Winchester, Virginia, 2006.
Inform Merit Award for Interiors, Inform magazine, for the “House on Shiner’s Hill” (“The Swartzenreader Haus”), 2006.
Award of Excellence for Historic Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for the “Cabin on Middle Ridge”, High View, West Virginia, 2006.
Merit Award for Conceptual/Unbuilt Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for “The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum”, in Winchester, Virginia, 2005.
Merit Award for Architectural Detail, Residential Architect magazine, for the “House on Shiner’s Hill” (“Swartzenreader House”), Winchester, Virginia, 2005.
Residential Architect Award from Washingtonian magazine, for the “Wheatland Farms Log Cabin”, Waterford, Virginia, 2005.z, AIA, 2004.
Recognition of Outstanding Achievement Award, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, awarded individually to Beth Reader, AIA and Chuck Swartz, AIA, 2004.
Merit Award in Historic Resources, Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, or the “Wheatland Farms Log Cabin”, in Waterford, Virginia, 2004.
Southern Home Award from Southern Living magazine, for the “Wheatland Farms Log Cabin”, in Waterford, Virginia, 2004.
Award of Merit in Historic Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for the Capon Springs Resort Bandstand Pavilion, Capon Springs, West Virginia, 2004.
Merit Award for Residential Renovation, Residential Architect magazine, for the “Wheatland Farms Log Cabin”, in Waterford, Virginia, 2004.
Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture, The Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architect, for the “Wheatland Farms Log Cabin, in Waterford”, Virginia, 2003.
Award of Merit for Historic Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for the “Wheatland Farms Log Cabin, in Waterford”, Virginia, 2003.
Award of Merit from Preservation of Historic Winchester, Incorporated, for The Judge Robert K. Woltz Pavilion at the Godfrey Miller Home in Winchester, Virginia, 2003. (Presented jointly to The Godfrey Miller Home.)
Award of Merit for Conceptual / Unbuilt Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for The House in Dutton Gap, in Gerrardstown, West Virginia, 2003.
Southern Home Award from Southern Living Magazine, for the Seaway House, in Rappahannock County, Virginia, for the Seaway House, in Rappahannock County, Virginia, 2003.
Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Architecture, The Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, for the Seaway House, in Rappahannock County, Virginia, 2002.
Award of Merit for Conceptual / Unbuilt Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for A New Paramedical Office Building, in Winchester, Virginia, 2002.
Special Citation for Sustainability in Residential Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for the Seaway House, in Rappahannock County, Virginia, 2002.
The Lucille Lozier Award, from Preservation of Historic Winchester, Incorporated, for outstanding restoration of an architectural and historic landmark, for The Old Frederick County Courthouse, in Winchester, Virginia, 2002. (Presented to the County of Frederick, Virginia.)
Award of Merit, from Preservation of Historic Winchester, Incorporated, for 321 and 323 North Kent Street, in Winchester, Virginia, 2002. (Presented jointly to The Winchester- Frederick County Chapter of Habitat For Humanity.
Special Citation for Interior Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for “The Contessa’s Story” (Elizabeth Locke Jewels boutique), in Boyce, Virginia, 2001.
Merit Award, 2001 Custom Home Design Awards, Custom Home magazine, for West Virginia Weekend House, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 2001.
Southern Home Award from Southern Living magazine, for West Virginia Weekend House, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 2001.
Award for Excellence in Architecture, Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, for Projects for the Glass-Glen Burnie Foundation, Winchester, Virginia, 1999.
Award for Excellence in Architecture, Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, for West Virginia Weekend House, Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 1999.
Award for Excellence in Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for Projects for the Glass-Glen Burnie Foundation, Winchester, Virginia, 1999.
Award for Excellence in Architecture, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for The Weekend House, Jefferson County, West Virginia, 1999.
Southern Home Award from Southern Living magazine, for Renovation of, and Addition to, Little Briars, in Boyce, Virginia, 1999.
Design Awards Merit Award for Residential Renovation from Custom Home magazine, for Renovation of, and Addition to, the McKay / Kalbian Residence, Boyce, Virginia, 1998.
Award of Excellence, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for the School Within a School at John Handley High School, Winchester, Virginia, 1997.
Award of Excellence, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for Renovation of, and Addition to, the McKay / Kalbian Residence, Boyce, Virginia, 1996.
Merit Award, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for Yellow Spring House, Yellow Spring, West Virginia, Virginia, 1996.
Merit Award, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for Bluemont House and Pavilion, Bluemont, Virginia, 1995.
Award of Excellence, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for the Law Offices of Hobert, Kerr & Perka, P.C., Berryville, Virginia, 1995.
Merit Award, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for North Kent Court, Winchester, Virginia, 1994.
Merit Award, Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, for Deck and Pavilion at Lake St. Clair, Frederick County, Virginia, 1994.
Maxwell Award of Excellence for the Production of Low- Income Housing, sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation, for North Kent Court, City Light Development Corporation, 1993.
Merit Award, Northern Virginia Chapter of the AIA Young Architects Forum, for the Bluemont House and Pavilion, Bluemont, Virginia, 1993.