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Newsletter 20

Is It Spring Yet ???

February 27th, 2014

Alright, “Old Man Winter”, enough already…

We’ve made it through the relentless mounds of snow, and now the show must go on. Our clients, builders, and faithful office canine are ready for warmer days ahead. Here’s a look at what’s new at our office as we look forward to putting “Old Man Winter” in our rear view mirror.

Loft Upon Cork, located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, has been published in the book Eco-Library Design by John A. Flannery and Karen M. Smith.

Modern living room with a unique shelving unit displaying art, books, and collectibles. Comfortable seating and colorful carpet complete the cozy space.

Project Constructed by Lodge Construction

A modern eco-library exterior, a contemporary wooden bookshelf, and a warmly lit library interior with shelves and a chandelier.

Eco-Library Design by John A. Flannery and Karen M. Smith. Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht Publishing 2014.

Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum

Amid the harsh weather, the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum construction is underway. Be sure to visit their site SVDM and follow the progress as they prepare for the big move. General contractor Howard Shockey & Sons has been hard at work, making this unique children’s museum a reality.

Two historical reenactors in 18th-century attire converse in front of a modern construction site, featuring a partially constructed brick building.

Presidents’ Day, 2014

A construction site features a pyramid-roofed structure covered in Tyvek, overlooking a cityscape with multiple church steeples visible in the background.

Check out the view from the Sky Level! Construction photo by Reader & Swartz Architects, P.C.

Area 51 – Haven for aliens, clients, and contractors

Area 51 We could tell you what’s going on there, but then we’d have to kill you. No, not really. This project is not located in Roswell, New Mexico, but in Shenandoah County, Virginia. We don’t really know how this project got its name, or how the contractors have been able to work through this winter, but sometimes it’s just good not to ask questions. If you think you can handle it, click here to see the progress being made, but remember, we warned you…

A small green house under construction sits on a barren hillside surrounded by leafless trees and a gravel road, beneath a cloudy sky.
Two unfinished houses with green insulation are situated on a grassy hillside, surrounded by bare trees, under an overcast sky.
A partially constructed building with a sloped roof under a blue sky. The moon is visible in the background, adding a tranquil touch.

Construction by Lodge Construction

Timber Frame Tower House

A new timber frame and tower house is going up in Boyce, Virginia!

Split image showing wooden roof trusses in construction and a modern, unfinished beige house under blue sky. No recognizable landmarks are present.
A modern house under construction with wooden beams and Typar wrap. Two people are working onsite, with a lift nearby.
Spacious room with large wooden beams and glass windows, overlooking a snowy landscape. Natural light fills the interior, highlighting wooden flooring.

Construction by houseworks LLC

Museum of the Shenandoah Valley Master Plan

We worked with a very talented team of consultants, and a visionary client, to develop the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley Master Plan. Be sure to visit the MSV website for news and updates.

Nine-photo collage with diverse activities and locations at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, featuring people, nature, animals, historic buildings, and gardens.

Images courtesy of Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

Awards: The Samuel Noakes House

The Samuel Noakes House was given the only award in the restoration category of the 2013 Custom Home Magazine Design Awards program. Chuck and Beth traveled to San Francisco to accept an award for this project from Custom Home Magazine. They also attended the annual Reinvention symposium (where they learned stuff).

Magazines cover showcasing modern interior design, prominent fireplace, glass walls, staircase, and a bear display. "Custom Home 2013 Design Awards" text featured.

Custom Home Magazine Fall 2013 Design Awards Edition – www.customhomeonline.com
Construction by houseworks LLC

Das Swartzenreader Haus

This photo of Chuck & Beth’s house was taken from the top floor of the old Winchester hospital. Cool shot, Rick!

A modern house with large windows is nestled among dense green and autumn-colored trees. No recognizable landmarks or historical buildings are visible.

Photo by Rick Foster

Jeff Ryan, Associate AIA

He wouldn’t leave us alone, so we decided to hire him. Our last hire, Charley (our office canine) passed her training with flying colors, so we thought we might try our luck again, this time with a human…

You can find him sitting next to Kevin, in the “Fort Awesome” area of the office.

Welcome, Jeff! (Yes, he’s also a Virginia Tech grad!)

A person smiling indoors with a blurred, vintage market background featuring shelves and hanging products, creating a casual and nostalgic ambiance.
Elvis has left the (adjacent) building

After years of being in the adjacent building, our neighbor and friend, Elvis, is moving onto bigger and better things. His alleyway yard sales will be missed.

Dear Reader,

If you made it this far, we would like to thank you for reading, by far, our longest newsletter to date.