Steven Blashfield: Invested in Culture

A modern art gallery—such as the Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center—features many suspended tube lights forming a floating shape over a wooden floor. The dark walls display abstract projections and landscape images, lending an immersive feel to the art exhibitions. Benches are spaced throughout the open, airy space.

Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center
Newport News, Virginia
Photography: Virginia Hammrick

Culture, In Practice

Museums and cultural institutions do more than house collections. They preserve memory, support education, welcome communities, tell difficult and meaningful stories, and create places where people can gather around a shared understanding of history, art, science, and public life.

For Glavé & Holmes Architecture, this work has long been central to who we are.

Across Virginia and beyond, our firm has helped cultural institutions plan, restore, expand, interpret, and reimagine spaces that serve the public. From museum galleries and visitor centers to historic sites, collections spaces, educational environments, and community-facing institutions, this work brings together many of the values that define our practice: creativity, contextualism, stewardship, technical expertise, and service.

It also reflects a larger belief. Cultural work does not end with design. It is strengthened through advocacy, philanthropy, board service, professional leadership, and sustained engagement with the organizations that shape the cultural life of our communities.

In this first issue of In Practice, we are highlighting G&H’s work with museums and cultural institutions, the impact of these places across the Commonwealth, and the leadership of Steven Blashfield, Director of our Cultural Studio and President of the Virginia Association of Museums.

A person stands in a bright art gallery with white walls and wood floors, viewing three framed portraits—an atmosphere that reflects being Invested in Culture. Large windows offer a view outside. Nearby, a small wooden table holds teapots and tea cups, and the person holds a red bag, embodying the thoughtful ambiance often curated by Steven Blashfield.

The Valentine Museum
Richmond, Virginia
Photography: Virginia Hammrick

Designing, Supporting, and Strengthening Cultural Institutions

Cultural institutions are among the most complex and meaningful clients architects serve.

They are public-facing, mission-driven, and often deeply tied to a specific place, collection, community, or history. Their buildings must support visitors, staff, educators, donors, collections, exhibitions, events, operations, and long-term stewardship. They must be welcoming and secure, flexible and durable, inspiring and practical.

For Glavé & Holmes, this complexity is exactly what makes cultural work so compelling.

Our Cultural Studio works with museums, historic sites, nonprofit organizations, and civic institutions to create spaces that support both mission and experience. In some cases, that means helping a museum improve how visitors move through a gallery or understand a story. In others, it means adapting an existing building for new public use, supporting collections care, planning for future growth, or helping an institution make the most of its resources.

A spacious, elegant gallery with a domed ceiling reflects the vision of Steven Blashfield, who is deeply invested in culture. Six pedestal display cases, each holding a watch, are arranged in a circle. Warm lighting highlights the cases while classic columns and archways decorate the room. Wood flooring and dark blue walls complete the sophisticated scene.

Fabergé Galleries Renovation, VMFA
Richmond, Virginia
Photography: Travis Fullerton © Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The best cultural design is not simply about creating a beautiful space. It is about understanding what an institution is trying to do, who it serves, what it protects, and how its building can help advance its mission.

That requires listening. It requires technical expertise. It requires sensitivity to context. And it requires respect for the many people who make cultural institutions work, from executive leadership and curators to educators, facilities teams, volunteers, donors, and visitors.

G&H’s experience in this sector reflects decades of collaboration with organizations that preserve history, advance learning, and enrich public life. Our work has included projects for museums, historic properties, educational institutions, cultural nonprofits, and public agencies across the Commonwealth. These projects are not isolated commissions. They are part of a larger commitment to the cultural infrastructure of our region.

A large, elegant brick building with columns sits amid greenery at sunset, reflecting a space truly invested in culture. Ornamental lights line a walkway leading to the entrance, inviting visitors into this distinguished setting. A taller, red-brick building stands behind—the hallmark of Steven Blashfield’s architectural vision—while tall grasses sway in the foreground beneath a soft pink sky.

Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center
Hampton, Virginia
Photography: Virginia Hammrick

Why Museums Matter Now

Museums and cultural nonprofits are facing a challenging moment in 2026.

Many institutions are navigating shifting audiences, rising costs, evolving expectations around accessibility and public engagement, aging facilities, collections needs, and uncertainty around funding. At the same time, their role in community life has never been more important.

Museums help people understand where they live. They preserve objects, buildings, stories, and traditions that might otherwise be lost. They create educational experiences for students and lifelong learners. They support tourism, local economies, civic identity, and cultural exchange. They provide space for reflection, discovery, and connection.

When museums struggle, communities feel that loss.

As architects, designers, preservationists, and community members, G&H sees cultural institutions as essential civic assets. Our work with these organizations is rooted in the belief that architecture can help them become more resilient, more welcoming, and more effective in serving their missions and communities.

That belief extends beyond our project work. G&H team members serve on boards, participate in professional organizations, attend and sponsor community events, support nonprofit initiatives, and give back to institutions that strengthen the cultural life of our communities.

Eight adults, four men and four women, stand smiling in front of a stage with a gray curtain. Most wear business or business casual attire with name badges and lanyards. Among them is Steven Blashfield, reflecting the group’s commitment to being invested in culture as they gather for what appears to be a professional conference or event.

Leadership in the Field: Steven Blashfield and VAM

Steven Blashfield, Director of G&H’s Cultural Studio, currently serves as President of the Virginia Association of Museums, a statewide organization dedicated to supporting museum professionals and cultural institutions across the Commonwealth.

His role with VAM reflects a long-standing commitment to the museum community and to the people, places, and organizations that sustain cultural life in Virginia. For Steven, cultural work is not limited to the design of galleries, visitor centers, or public spaces. It is about understanding how institutions operate, how they engage audiences, how they care for collections, and how their buildings can support their mission over time.

By the Numbers: G&H’s Cultural Impact

G&H’s cultural work reaches far beyond any single project. Across the Commonwealth, our museum and cultural clients serve residents, students, researchers, visitors, families, and communities every day.

Infographic with stats about G&H: 50+ museums and cultural clients, work in 16 states, hired by 8 Virginia state agencies, 32 years sponsoring the VA Association of Museums, and “Invested in Culture” with 2.5+ million annual museum visitors.

A large, modern beige stone building with tall windows and symmetrical wings sits on a manicured lawn under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Invested in culture, this impressive structure—envisioned by Steven Blashfield—features small trees and shrubs lining the front, while a concrete pathway leads invitingly to the entrance.

Cultural Project Profile: Virginia Museum of History & Culture

Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Richmond, Virginia
Photography: Virginia Hammrick

For more than thirty years, Glavé & Holmes Architecture has partnered with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture to expand and transform nearly every part of its approximately 200,000-square-foot facility, home to nearly nine million objects representing Virginia’s history.

Since 1990, G&H has completed five major campaigns at the museum—in 1991, 2001, 2006, 2013, and 2022. The work has touched the original 1913 Battle Abbey and its subsequent additions, creating and improving galleries, research and collections spaces, a theater, meeting and event areas, visitor amenities, staff offices, and the surrounding grounds.

The most recent campaign represented the museum’s most comprehensive public-facing transformation to date. Completed in 2022, the project renovated the research library, expanded the main public hall, introduced a new café and museum store, added flexible meeting spaces, updated staff offices, and improved galleries throughout the building. Together, these changes created a brighter, more cohesive, and more welcoming experience for visitors.

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture exterior features modern architecture, trees, outdoor tables with blue umbrellas, and a streetlamp. A large banner displays a statue by Steven Blashfield, and the museum name is visible above the entrance. With a partly cloudy sky overhead, the scene reflects an institution truly invested in culture.

The Institution

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture preserves, interprets, and shares the Commonwealth’s history through its collections, exhibitions, research resources, educational programs, and public events.

The Challenge

As the museum evolved from a primarily research-focused institution into a major public destination, its facility needed to evolve with it. Disconnected spaces, changing exhibition needs, and growing demand for programming and visitor amenities called for a clearer and more flexible environment.

G&H’s Role

Working alongside multiple generations of museum leadership, G&H has helped the institution plan strategically for changing needs while respecting the historic character of the Battle Abbey. The firm’s work has ranged from long-term planning and historic rehabilitation to additions, interior renovations, collections storage, gallery improvements, and landscape enhancements.

The Impact

The renewed museum better supports the full range of activities taking place within it—from exhibitions, research, and collections care to education, events, and daily operations. More importantly, it provides an inviting public setting where visitors can engage with the complex and continually unfolding story of Virginia.

Closing Thought

Cultural institutions shape the way communities see themselves.

They preserve what matters, open doors to new ideas, and create spaces where people can gather, learn, remember, and connect. At G&H, we are honored to work with organizations that carry that responsibility every day.

As museums and cultural nonprofits continue to navigate change, their role remains essential. They need advocates, supporters, donors, visitors, volunteers, and partners who understand their value.

We are proud to be one of those partners.

Wren Building Restoration Receives 2026 AIA Virginia Merit Award

We’re honored to share that the Wren Building Restoration has received a 2026 AIA Virginia Award for Excellence in Architecture, earning a Merit Award in Extended Use — Historic Preservation.

G&H’s restoration of William & Mary’s Wren Building focused on preserving the many layers of history that have shaped this landmark since 1695.

Following extensive investigation, our team developed a comprehensive strategy to address water infiltration while conserving historic masonry, stone, wood, and other significant materials from the roof to the foundation. Guided by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, the work prioritized repair over replacement and carefully integrated modern improvements to help this living landmark endure for generations to come.

See the full list of 2026 Design Award Winners here.

©2026 David Lamb Photography

Glavé & Holmes Architecture Named a 2026 Richmond Times-Dispatch Top Workplace

Glavé & Holmes Architecture is honored to be recognized as a 2026 Richmond Times-Dispatch Top Workplace.

This recognition is especially meaningful because it is based on employee feedback. At G&H, our work is shaped by collaboration, mentorship, creativity, and a shared commitment to designing places that elevate the human spirit.

We are grateful to our entire team for the care, talent, and energy they bring to the studio every day. As a Richmond-based firm, we are proud to be part of this community and to continue building a workplace rooted in purpose, trust, and service.

Glavé & Holmes Celebrates New Associate and Senior Associate Promotions

Glavé & Holmes is proud to announce the promotion of five team members to Associate and Senior Associate. These individuals have demonstrated exceptional talent, leadership, dedication, and a continued commitment to the firm’s clients, projects, and studio culture.

Please join us in congratulating:

Karin Burcak, CID
Associate

A woman with long brown hair stands smiling in a room with brick walls and fabric samples. She wears a navy cap-sleeve dress. Text reads, Associate Karin Burcak, CID. The setting suggests a professional, creative workspace at Glavé & Holmes, reflecting the firm’s commitment to recognizing talent through Associate Promotions.

Michael Hammon, AIA
Senior Associate

A man with a beard, wearing a blue blazer over a checked shirt, stands smiling in front of a brick wall. Text on the image reads: Senior Associate Michael Hammon, AIA. The setting appears to be a professional office and highlights the recent associate promotions at Glavé & Holmes.

Edwin Holloway, AIA
Senior Associate

A man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a dark blazer and white shirt, stands smiling in an office with brick walls and large windows. Text on image reads: Senior Associate and Edwin Holloway, AIA, highlighting recent senior associate promotions at Glavé & Holmes.

Leah Stoner, NCIDQ, CID
Associate

A smiling woman in a burgundy dress stands with one hand on her hip in a bright Glavé & Holmes office. Text reads: Associate. Leah Stoner, NCIDQ, CID. Shelves with books and a brick wall are visible in the background, highlighting recent associate promotions.

Leah White
Associate

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a sleeveless red turtleneck, smiles at the camera. Behind her is an exposed brick wall. Text in the corner reads: Associate Leah White. The setting appears to be a professional office environment at Glavé & Holmes, highlighting recent associate promotions.

Each of these team members brings valuable expertise, creativity, and care to their work, strengthening the firm through their contributions and helping shape the future of Glavé & Holmes. We are grateful for their continued leadership and proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.

Westhampton Commons Receives Impact Award from Richmond Real Estate Group

Glavé & Holmes Architecture is pleased to share that Westhampton Commons has received the Impact Award from the Richmond Real Estate Group. The award recognizes projects that make a meaningful contribution to the community, demonstrating innovation, overcoming challenges, or advancing excellence in design and development.

Developed by Thalhimer Realty Partners, Westhampton Commons transforms a historic 1917 school site at the corner of Patterson and Libbie into a vibrant mixed-use destination in one of Richmond’s most walkable neighborhoods. The project thoughtfully integrates residential, office, retail, and public space through a design approach that is both contextually responsive and forward-looking.

The development combines adaptive reuse of the original school building with new construction, creating an active streetscape supported by shops, services, and outdoor gathering spaces. A shared green anchors the site, incorporating a monument that acknowledges its role in the history of school desegregation. The second phase, known as The Birney, expands the community with additional residential and office components, reinforcing the long-term vitality of the development.

Together, these efforts establish Westhampton Commons as a dynamic, mixed-use environment that enhances both the character and livability of the surrounding neighborhood.

Steven Blashfield Named President of the Virginia Association of Museums

Glavé & Holmes Architecture is proud to share that Steven Blashfield, AIA, Cultural Studio Director, has been named President of the Virginia Association of Museums.

Steven’s appointment reflects his longstanding commitment to the cultural sector and his dedication to creating meaningful spaces for learning, engagement, and community. Through his leadership at Glavé & Holmes, he has helped shape projects that support museums and cultural institutions in their missions to preserve history, inspire curiosity, and connect people through shared experience.

As President of the Virginia Association of Museums, Steven will help support and advance an organization that serves museum professionals and institutions across the Commonwealth. His leadership in this role speaks to both his professional expertise and his deep investment in the cultural community.

Please join us in congratulating Steven on this well-deserved achievement.

Six adults stand smiling in front of a stage with gray curtains, representing the Virginia Association of Museums. They wear business attire, while conference banners and a podium—marked for President Steven Blashfield—are visible behind them. The room features elegant décor, patterned carpet, and bright lighting.

Eight adults in business attire stand smiling in front of a stage with gray curtains, most wearing Virginia Association of Museums conference badges. Six people stand while two sit in front, including President Steven Blashfield. The setting is a formal event or conference in a large room.

Christopher Newport University Science & Engineering Research Center Ribbon Cutting

Glavé & Holmes Architecture recently joined Christopher Newport University faculty, students, leadership, and community partners to celebrate the grand opening of the Science & Engineering Research Center (SERC), marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony held on campus this past weekend. The event represented an important milestone for the university and reflected a shared commitment to advancing science, engineering, and experiential learning through thoughtfully designed academic environments.

The ceremony featured remarks from several distinguished guests, including former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Jennifer Dunn, Vice President of Communications for Newport News Shipbuilding. Speakers highlighted the role the Science & Engineering Research Center will play in preparing students for careers in science, engineering, and related fields, while strengthening connections between higher education and industry. Dunn emphasized the importance of facilities like SERC in helping develop the skilled workforce needed to support Virginia’s economy both now and in the future.

A crowd sits on folding chairs outside a large red-brick building with tall columns at Christopher Newport University. A speaker stands at a podium for the Ribbon Cutting ceremony of the new Science & Engineering Research Center, while people are gathered around. Trees, a lamppost, and cloudy skies are in the background. A woman signs in American Sign Language.

The Science & Engineering Research Center is a significant investment in Christopher Newport University’s academic mission. Designed to support hands-on learning, undergraduate research, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the facility provides spaces purpose-built for experimentation, instruction, and discovery. As a Higher Education project, the building reflects the growing role architecture plays in shaping how students learn, engage, and apply knowledge beyond the classroom.

Four people in business attire stand in a bright, modern lab at the Science & Engineering Research Center at Christopher Newport University, with large windows, wooden tables, sinks, and ceiling-mounted hoses. One man gestures while speaking as the others listen, evoking the atmosphere of a recent ribbon cutting. The room appears new or recently renovated, with clean surfaces and minimal equipment.

Glavé & Holmes approached the design of the Science & Engineering Research Center with a focus on adaptability and longevity. Higher education facilities, particularly those supporting scientific disciplines, must accommodate ongoing advances in technology and pedagogy. The building was designed to remain a relevant and flexible academic resource as programs and instructional approaches continue to evolve.

Seventeen adults pose indoors before a large mural featuring mathematical equations and a graph at the Science & Engineering Research Center, Christopher Newport University. Most wear business or semi-formal attire. Some hold certificates or folders, likely commemorating the Ribbon Cutting ceremony. The setting is bright, with plants visible at the edges and an arched niche overhead.

As the Science & Engineering Research Center begins its life as an active academic environment, its impact will be defined by the learning experiences it supports and the discoveries it enables. Glavé & Holmes is proud to have contributed to a project that advances scientific education and research at Christopher Newport University, and we congratulate the university community on this important milestone.

A group of people, mostly in business attire, stand facing the large, red-brick Science & Engineering Research Center at Christopher Newport University, its tall columns and arched windows creating an impressive backdrop. The scene is outdoors on a brick walkway with a lamppost and small landscaped area in the foreground—anticipation fills the air as they gather for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Glavé & Holmes at ArchEx 2025

Glavé & Holmes Architecture recently participated in AIA Virginia’s Architecture Exchange East (ArchEx), where Lori Garrett, President of G&H, contributed to two insightful sessions. Lori kicked off the event by leading the Large Firm Roundtable, a forum for practices with 35+ employees. The conversation offered space for leaders to share challenges, exchange best practices, and celebrate successes within large-firm environments.

She also joined Rob Parise for Learning by Design: Creative Futures at the Intersection of Arts, Innovation, and Architecture. Co-presented with colleagues from VCU, Radford University, William Rawn Associates, and Hord Coplan Macht, the session highlighted two recent academic projects—the Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity at Radford University and the CoStar Center for Arts and Innovation at VCU. Together, they explored how flexible, interdisciplinary spaces can bring the arts, health, technology, and business together under one roof.

We appreciated the opportunity to engage at ArchEx and to help advance conversations about the evolving role of architecture in learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Glavé & Holmes Wins Two Urban Guild Design Excellence Awards

Glavé & Holmes is proud to announce that the firm received two Design Excellence Awards at this year’s Urban Guild Awards.

The General Assembly Building, with Robert A.M. Stern Architects serving as Lead Architect and Glavé & Holmes as Associate Architect, was honored with the Civic Winner Award. The Reid’s Row Rehabilitation also received recognition with the Civic Merit Award.

Andrew Moore, Senior Principal and Director of the Civic & Community Studio, attended the ceremony on behalf of the firm and accepted both awards, which recognize thoughtful, contextual design that strengthens civic environments and honors the character of place.

The full list of winners can be found here.

Two Design Excellence certificates and a silver Urban Guild 2025 trophy from the prestigious Urban Guild Design Excellence Awards sit on a black table. Several people stand in the background, some holding papers, while representatives from Glavé & Holmes mingle at what appears to be an indoor event or ceremony celebrating design awards.

Wren Building Topping Off Ceremony

Glavé & Holmes Architecture’s Historic Preservation Studio recently joined William & Mary and the full design and construction team to celebrate the topping off of the Wren Building, a National Historic Landmark and the oldest academic building in continuous use in the United States.

The Wren Building has endured over 300 years of history—fires, reconstructions, and the natural effects of age. Each brick tells a story, and our responsibility was to respect that legacy while ensuring the building remains watertight and structurally sound for future generations. Guided by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, every intervention was approached with restraint: repairing, replacing, or preserving historic fabric only when necessary, and always with careful attention to authenticity.

A woman in glasses and a light blazer speaks at a wooden podium with a green WILLIAM & MARY sign during the Topping Off Ceremony. She stands outdoors near stairs, wooden scaffolding, and a brick wall of the historic Wren Building. Several people face her, listening to the speech.

Materials were sourced to match historic precedents—from handmade reproduction bricks from Colonial Williamsburg, to roof tiles from Ludowici, to Portland stone imported from the same quarry in England. Mortar was analyzed across each façade and meticulously matched in all characteristics.

Our guiding principle throughout the project was clear: the signs of age should not be erased, but the building must be protected. If we have done our job well, the Wren Building will continue to shine with its historic character intact—without drawing attention to our interventions.

As Restoration Architects, our role on this project has been both humbling and rewarding. Together with William & Mary’s leadership, including University Architect, Dan Pisaniello and Project Manager, Matt Rossi, our Principal and Director of Historic Preservation, Susan Reed, Project Manager and Historical Architect, Nickolas Coile, and Architectural Historian and Historical Architect, Gibson Worsham worked closely with a talented array of consultants, including WDP (envelope engineering), VHB (civil engineering), PACE Collaborative (mechanical and electrical engineering), LAM Partners (exterior lighting), ECS Mid-Atlantic (hazardous materials), and Axias (specialty cost estimating).

We are grateful to William & Mary for entrusting us with this important work, to our design partners for their expertise, and to Grunley Construction for bringing these preservation plans to life in the field.

A weather vane marked 1693 sits atop a cupola with shuttered windows on a shingled roof, overlooking a brick path lined with leafless trees, green lawns, and a statue under a clear blue sky—an iconic scene of the Wren Building’s historic architecture.