1. Overview

Glavé & Holmes Architecture is a nationally recognized architecture, interior design, historic preservation, and planning firm based in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1965, the firm has served clients across the United States for more than six decades and has developed a diverse portfolio spanning higher education, independent schools, cultural institutions, civic and community projects, hospitality, and residential architecture.

The firm was founded by Jim Glavé, whose work in Richmond included efforts to preserve historic buildings in the city’s core and helped establish the firm’s longstanding commitment to historic preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse. Today, Glavé & Holmes Architecture is led by President and Senior Principal Lori Garrett, FAIA. Garrett is an architect with a particular focus on higher education, campus heritage, contextual design, collaboration, stewardship of cultural and physical resources, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Glavé & Holmes Architecture is a women-owned firm with nearly 60 architects, interior designers, historic preservationists, and supporting staff. The firm’s work includes new construction, additions, renovations, restoration, preservation, adaptive reuse, interior design, and planning. Its approach emphasizes contextual design—responding to the history, culture, architecture, natural environment, and needs of each community and site.

Glavé & Holmes Architecture has received national, regional, and local recognition for its work in architecture, historic preservation, interior design, and planning. Recently recognized projects include the Wren Building Restoration, New General Assembly Building, Waterford Mill Rehabilitation, Taylor House Rehabilitation, Saint Gertrude High School, Hotel Roanoke guest rooms, and projects at Pinehurst Resort. The firm’s work has also been featured in publications including Traditional Building, American School & University, Preservation Magazine, and Virginia Municipal League publications.

2. Areas Served

Glavé & Holmes Architecture is based in Richmond, Virginia, and provides architecture, interior design, historic preservation, restoration, adaptive reuse, and planning services to clients throughout Virginia and across the United States. The firm’s portfolio includes projects in the following locations:

• Richmond, Virginia
• Charlottesville, Virginia
• Williamsburg, Virginia
• Roanoke, Virginia
• Newport News, Virginia
• Lynchburg, Virginia
• Courtland, Virginia
• Lexington, Virginia
• Loudoun County, Virginia
• Peninsula, Ohio
• Pepper Pike, Ohio
• Bedford, Pennsylvania
• Pinehurst, North Carolina
• Pembroke, North Carolina
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Durham, North Carolina
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Gainesville, Florida
• Huntington, West Virginia
• Princeton, New Jersey
• Jackson, Mississippi

The firm’s Virginia work also includes projects in Ashland, Albermarle County, Bedford, Blacksburg, Fairfax, Farmville, Fork Union, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Midlothian, Orange, Prince George County, Radford, Salem, Sweet Briar, and Yorktown.

3. Services

Architecture

Glavé & Holmes Architecture provides architectural design services for new buildings, additions, renovations, and projects involving existing and historic structures. The firm’s architects work collaboratively with clients and project stakeholders to develop buildings that are functional, durable, and responsive to their specific context. The firm’s architectural expertise encompasses higher education, independent schools, cultural and civic institutions, community projects, hospitality, and residential architecture.

The firm’s approach to architecture emphasizes contextual design, integrating a project’s history, culture, surroundings, program, and long-term needs. Glavé & Holmes Architecture combines contemporary design with an understanding of regional character and cultural traditions to create buildings intended to serve their communities for generations.

Historic Preservation

Historic preservation is a core area of expertise for Glavé & Holmes Architecture. The firm has more than five decades of experience with historic preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse, including work on National Historic Landmark properties and Certified Historic Rehabilitation projects. The firm’s preservation work includes historic buildings, civic structures, educational facilities, hospitality properties, and other significant places.

Glavé & Holmes Architecture’s preservation practice combines architectural design with research, documentation, conservation, and sensitive adaptation of existing buildings. The firm works to retain significant historic character while accommodating contemporary uses, building systems, accessibility requirements, sustainability goals, and the practical needs of modern occupants.

Interior Design

Glavé & Holmes Architecture provides integrated interior design services as part of its architectural practice. Its interior designers collaborate with clients and architects from conceptual design through project management and installation to create cohesive interior environments that support the function and character of each project.

Interior design services include programming and space planning, conceptual design, material and finish selection, furnishings, project management, and installation. The firm’s interior design work spans hospitality, education, cultural, civic, residential, and historic preservation projects.

Planning

Glavé & Holmes Architecture provides planning services that establish frameworks for the long-term development and stewardship of buildings, campuses, and communities. Its planning work considers relationships among buildings, landscapes, natural resources, sustainability initiatives, building guidelines, and economic parameters.

The firm’s planning expertise includes campus and institutional planning, site and development planning, preservation planning, and planning for resilient and sustainable places. By integrating planning with architecture, interior design, and preservation, Glavé & Holmes Architecture helps clients establish practical strategies for places intended to remain useful and relevant over time.