We are listeners, facilitators, and creative problem-solvers.
We believe that architecture tells the story of each client, congregation, and neighborhood. From master planning to urban infill and affordable housing, our design process is compassionate and community-led.
brwarchitects recognized as top-performing firm in PSMJ circle of excellence
PSMJ Resources, Inc., the world’s leading authority on the effective management of architecture, engineering, and construction firms, announces the members of the 2019 Circle of Excellence. Seventy-two exceptional architecture and engineering firms made it onto the exclusive list this year.
PSMJ designed the Circle of Excellence to highlight successfully managed firms that demonstrate outstanding achievements in areas such as profitability, overhead management, cash flow, productivity, business development, staff growth, and turnover. The Circle of Excellence represents the top 20 percent of participants in PSMJ’s annual A/E Financial Performance Benchmark Survey, based on 13 key performance metrics.
supportive services for complex organizations
With a long history of having worked in historical contexts in Charlottesville and Central Virginia, brwarchitects was initially consulted to provide some architectural sensitivity support for MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) engineers for a local institutional client. This evolved into a series of supportive maintenance, upgrade, and planning activities over the following years while our client executed more prominent restoration projects.
In any complex institution, the wide variety of organizational functions make facilities changes an involved procedure. We think of these as “domino projects” in which one change or upgrade to a facility leads to new and re-emerging organizational needs in other areas. In addition, our client’s many personnel were distributed among disparate buildings – a predicament that they had previously identified as a priority.
Kurt Keesecker Appointed Principal
brwarchitects is pleased to announce that Kurt Keesecker, AIA, has joined firm founder Bruce Wardell as Principal and Partner. In addition to 20+ years of experience as an Architect and Senior Associate, Kurt is a visionary community leader, amateur game designer, and master storyteller.
Kurt’s passion is for community infill projects and the relationship between private enterprise and public good. His memorable projects include The Belmont Lofts, architectural and planning support for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s mountaintop restoration, and numerous visionary studies for Charlottesville’s urban core. After serving for nearly a decade on the Charlottesville Planning Commission, Kurt will use his new role at brwarchitects to think deeply about how our community can be more beautiful and more just.
Southwood redevelopment featured in Washington Post
We’re pleased to see the important work at Southwood receive recognition in the national media. The resident-led redevelopment process is unique across the country. Where most communities in trailer parks are at high risk of displacement, the residents at Southwood not only have housing security, but have also become experts and advocates for their vision of the neighborhood.
we’re hiring: architectural associate / job lead
We are currently hiring an Architectural Associate with a minimum of 3-5 years experience in detailing and production. An ideal candidate will have a strong design instinct, will be proficient in presentation skills (both hand drawn and digital) as well as the production of construction drawings (we use REVIT), and will continue to be involved in projects through bidding and construction.
We are a collaborative office where each person will do any task needed to create the quality of work that has built our reputation over the last almost 40 years. The person in this position should have communication and coordination skills to manage projects and work closely with colleagues and consultants.
karim selected for emerging leaders in architecture
brwarchitects Associate Karim Habbab has been elected to the Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA) Academy of AIA Virginia. These participants are selected for their potential to be outstanding contributors to the profession and the community. ELA is an intensive program of educational sessions structured around presentations, team exploration, consensus-building, analysis, and case study activities over the course of a year. The group also culminates with a presentation at Architecture Exchange East in 2019.
brw welcomes vy do
Vy grew up in Vietnam and immigrated to Virginia where she studied high school and discovered her love for architecture. She moved to Charlottesville to pursue her dreams in design and attended the University of Virginia.
Vy has been fascinated with residential design and eager to learn about commercial projects as well as religious. She believes that architectural beauty comes from its intricately crafted process, from its first design phase to the completed product. On her days off, Vy enjoys traveling, spending time with her two bunnies and occasionally baking, making tiramisu to share with families and friends.
southwood redevelopment receives $2.25 million
Governor Ralph Northam announced on Tuesday that the Southwood community will be receiving $2.25 million in funding as part of the Vibrant Community Initiative, which seeks to expand affordable housing opportunities in the Commonwealth. In 2007, Habitat purchased the Southwood Mobile Home Park with the goal to redevelop it as a mixed-income, sustainable neighborhood without resident displacement. Since that time, Habitat has worked closely with residents to stabilize the current infrastructure of the park, expand upon community building efforts, and design a blueprint for phase one of redevelopment.
“This is incredibly exciting news,” said Dan Rosensweig, Habitat President and CEO. “It’s the initial chunk of funding necessary as we develop the resource bank to build the first model village.”
This year, residents contributed over 900 hours toward a phase one rezoning application. Thirty seven Southwood families have expressed interest in being part of the first phase of redevelopment, and this number is expected to grow as the project moves forward.
the effects of a simple roof
Even a seemingly straightforward commercial project can produce an unexpected moment of delight in its design. The construction of a new office for Froehlinger & Robertson needed to perform well for the staff by providing a comfortable place to work and an efficient arrangement of space. The building is also in a prominent position on Route 250, and so we identified an opportunity to design a noticeable and professional presence, and to capture the beautiful views of the Blue Ridge.
In an early session with our clients, a simple piece of folded chipboard opened up our vision for the resulting design of the roof.
The main feature of the building is the sloping room pointing toward the mountains. This roof, as simple as it looks, serves many purposes. It allows the windows to take advantage of the north light, and creates several interesting spaces inside the building. The slope directs drainage to the back of the building, but it also partly shields the view of the parking from the road. And finally, it acts as a visual landmark, a lantern along Route 250 to mark the presence of F&R in the community.
designing in context
Part of our mission is to design buildings and landscapes that become “good citizens” in our community. This happens by not only meeting the specific concerns of our clients, but also by contributing to the enrichment of the larger community.
Over three and a half decades, our firm has cultivated a design process which responds to the specific landscape, built environment, and social context of each project. This creativity draws from the palette of style, material, texture and landscape in a project’s surroundings and employs them in unique compositions. In this way, we have been able to create clearly modern projects that also fit seamlessly into Charlottesville’s historic neighborhoods.
board of supervisors endorse southwood action plan
Great news for Habitat for Humanity and the residents of Southwood Mobile Home Park as the Action Plan for Phase 1 of redevelopment was approved by the Board of Supervisors. This Action Plan was a highly collaborative effort and is a clear step toward real commitment to increasing sustainable, long-term, resident-driven, affordable housing in the County.
Join us on Houzz
We are pleased to announce that brwarchitects has joined Houzz, an online platform dedicated to connecting homeowners with residential design professionals. Several useful features distinguish Houzz from other social media networks, including one we are using already: collaborating with our clients throughout the design process using IdeaBooks.