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.

Glavé & Holmes Architecture Receives 2023 Palladio Award for The Liberty Trust Hotel

The award celebrates outstanding achievement in traditional design and Glavé & Holmes was one of just 15 Palladio Award winners nationwide.

“We’re thrilled to be honored with a 2023 Palladio Award for the interior design of The Liberty Trust Hotel,” said Jessica Ritter, CID, IIDA, LEED AP, Principal and Director of Interior Design at Glavé & Holmes. “This award is so meaningful because it recognizes both the thoughtful preservation of historic features and the incredible transformation of this remarkable building.”

The Liberty Trust Hotel opened in May 2022 and was lauded by Forbes as one of the most highly anticipated hotel openings in 2022. Located in downtown Roanoke, The Liberty Trust Hotel’s historic building is among the most iconic structures in the Star City of the South. It first opened in 1910 as a bank and is now on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Virginia Historic Landmark.

Reimagined as a boutique hotel, the building boasts a number of unique details and architectural features that allow The Liberty Trust Hotel to offer guests the best of contemporary hospitality. For example, a high-end wine tasting room is housed in the bank’s former vault, and the soaring lobby is now a gathering place for travelers and visitors to enjoy food and beverages in a unique environment. Each guest room boasts stunning historic copper clad doors paired with modern amenities. The entire historic building – seven stories – was beautifully and meticulously renovated into 54 rooms and common spaces.

The Liberty Trust Hotel has already become a destination itself and highlights the broader hospitality renaissance happening in Roanoke. Character-defining features and finishes preserved include marble floors and trim, decorative plaster ceilings, teller counters, bank vault, and the copper-faced doors and trim on upper floors. Minor modifications were made to accommodate current building code requirements and the operations of a modern hotel.

Ritter and her team at Glavé & Holmes worked closely with the hotel’s ownership team at Savara Hospitality. One of the primary project considerations was to renovate the building to be a functional boutique hotel but maintain as much of the historic fabric as possible. These efforts included restoring existing copper clad doors and trim and original marble flooring. Where minor modifications to the floor plan were required, the design team left the exposed concrete to show the evolution of the building rather than replacing or covering with new flooring materials.

“Collaborating with the team at Savara Hospitality was a highlight of this project,” added Ritter. “We shared a deep respect and passion for this historic structure and its immense potential. The result is truly one of the most unique and inspiring boutique hotel experiences in the country.”

A modern lounge at Sandy Hall Rehabilitation Center features a wide arched window, orange carpet, gray bench, and striped sofa. A person sits on the sofa using a laptop. Four steps with metal railings lead up to the area, while a circular light fixture hangs from the ceiling. — Classic King Room at the Liberty Trust Hotel

The Glavé & Holmes team also was recognized for creative design solutions that addressed unique challenges posed by a historic structure. Specific preservation challenges included sensitively reconfiguring original and modified corridors and offices to accommodate hotel rooms, and creating built-in furnishings in guest rooms which enabled Savara to make the most of available historic tax credits. In addition, the design team was able to integrate historic teller counters into a stunning new lobby bar. For over 20 years, the Palladio Awards have recognized both individual designers and design teams whose work enhances the beauty and humane qualities of the built environment. The award program was founded and managed by Traditional Building magazine and has become one of the preeminent design and architecture awards in the country. An esteemed jury of design practitioners and architecture critics reviewed over 175 entries to select the top projects in 15 categories.

Congratulations to all of the award winners! Learn more about the 2023 Palladio Award from Traditional Building Magazine here.

Read more about our insights on this unique project here.

New School Building Combines History with the Future

“The more you peel back the layers of the
building (and our faith), the more beauty you will find.”
Jesse Grapes, President, Benedictine Schools of Richmond

Saint Gertrude Celebrates 101 Years of Faith And Education

For nearly a century, Saint Gertrude High School, Virginia’s only all-girls Catholic preparatory day school, was a staple of Richmond’s Museum District, the students in their signature green uniforms a common sight on the city’s sidewalks.

The school’s internal design team started planning for a new school building in the spring of 2020. They met with several architectural firms before selecting Richmond-based Glavé & Holmes to build the 51,000-square-foot structure overlooking the James River.

“We chose Glavé & Holmes because they demonstrated the best understanding of what our internal design team wanted to accomplish: honor the Catholic and periodic architectural traditions of the original Saint Gertrude build- ing, develop a modern school building to meet a high standard of pedagogical and technological support, and expand the building’s functionality to further reinforce the Rule of Saint Benedict, particularly the Rule’s emphasis on building ‘community,’” explained Jesse Grapes, president of the Benedictine Schools of Richmond.

Read more about our insights on this unique project here.

To learn more about Saint Gertrude High School, visit saintgertrude.org

View of the James River from the new Saint Gertrude High School Terrace at sunrise.

Virginia Museum of History & Culture to Begin $30 Million Renovation

Congrats to the Cultural Studio and the hard work on the VMHC for the $30 million renovation that will add a new café, theater and green space. Read more about the renovation HERE.

Robinson House Rehabilitation

Congrats to the Cultural Studio for their work on the VMFA Robinson House Rehabilitation. “For 20 years it was vacant and used for storage, until we rehabilitated the building and brought it back to life.” -Steven Blashfield, Cultural Studio Director

Read the full article about this building’s rehabilitation as a gallery and tourist center in Richmond, Virginia HERE.

Quotes from VAM and NCMC

The Glavé & Holmes team had a great time at both the Virginia Association of Museum’s Annual Conference and the North Carolina Museum Council’s Annual Meeting. While networking with professionals and sitting in on various sessions, we compiled a list of the top 10 quotes that may have raised eyebrows…

“You don’t happen to have a structural engineer, do you?”
– Su Thongpan, Accountant with Virginia Association of Museums, after the VAM conference was moved out of the planned exhibit hall following a different group’s party the night before. What a miraculous recovery and adaptation by VAM staff!

“If you want to get money, ask for advice. If you want to get advice, ask for money.”
– Allan Burrows, President of Capital Development Services, at the NCMC Director’s Forum sponsored by Glavé & Holmes Architecture on philanthropy and the importance of having the right approach.

“Public’s trust is the coin of the realm for museums.”
– Eric App, Director of Museum Operations at the Museum of the Confederacy, quoting Ford Bell at the annual VAM Leadership Program, sponsored by Glavé & Holmes Architecture.

“In the last funding cycle, there were 26 non-profit (entities) that received funding, this time there were only four.”
– Stephen F. Saucier, Executive Director for NC Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative, on the challenging environment in the NC legislature and their successful efforts to retain a block of funding for a consortium of 34 museums across the state of North Carolina.

“You should write on all your paintings.”
– Gregg Horner, Special Agent with the FBI Art Crime Team, at the VAM Keynote Presentation on his career discovering lost art and how physical evidence has helped them recover stolen items.

“Carry around the wish list of opportunities in your pocket.”
– Dr. Betsey Bennett, Strategic Counsel at Capital Development Services and former Director of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, at the Director’s Forum at NCMC on being prepared to respond to unexpected development opportunities at your museum.

“Beauty is an essential human need.”
– Steven Blashfield, Cultural Studio Director at Glavé & Holmes Architecture, quoting Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., on why you need to fight for protection of the most important aspects of your facility in his session “Five Ideas Every Museum Professional Should Know.”

“Unfortunately, this is my last conference in the state of North Carolina.”
– Kyle Bryner, Registrar and Collections Manager at the Wake Forest University’s Museum of Anthropology and Vice President of NCMC, announcing her upcoming move to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Virginia. Are you paying attention, Virginia?

“There is no pain, like a campaign.”
– Allan Burrows, President of Capital Development Services, quoting Wendy Block, wife of former NC State Senator Franklin Lee Block.

“What a gift.”
– Unknown voice in the crowd, remarking on the beauty of Mt. Vernon during a night time VAM Conference visit after a fresh snow.

CNU’s Pope Chapel wins two awards

Glavé & Holmes Architecture is pleased to announce that our work with Royal Stone, LLC on Christopher Newport University’s Pope Chapel won two awards; Architectural Precast Association Award for Excellence and Cast Stone Institute Commercial Excellence Award.

Pope Chapel, located on Christopher Newport University’s campus, was designed to be a place of celebration and ceremony for students of all faiths. The campus has been in a process of transformation over the past decade, constructing multiple new buildings in an American neo-classical style. The Chapel is situated next to Trible Library and is part of the buildings that comprise the main entrance into the campus center. As such, the Chapel is designed to contextually reflect the campus character and to be a gateway structure for the University.

Five MORE design ideas every museum professional should know

Coming out of a recession, museums, historic sites, and cultural properties have faced challenges. But this is not the time to be complacent – sites that have prepared themselves and are following the trends will be better positioned to capitalize on coming economic growth, capture expanding markets, and improve operations. Understanding key elements of design and how visitors perceive a space is important to one’s effectiveness.

At the 2013 Southeastern Museums Conference, G&HA’s Cultural Studio leader, Steven Blashfield, presented “Five MORE Design Ideas Every Museum Professional Should Know.” As a follow-up to his presentation at last year’s conference, the seminar included design considerations that should be part of each cultural institution’s current operations and future planning.

Design Idea 6
How Museums Learn: It is important to recognize that just like buildings, museums are designed to change. Change is an inevitable process and the best way to manage change is by establishing and maintaining a strategic plan and a master plan. It is just as important in challenging times as it is in positive times to use this plan to ensure that you continue to support your core mission and identity.

Design Idea 7
The Vitruvian Man: People have an ingrained understanding of size and scale that relates to their own physical size. Understanding human scale, and providing visual clues to scale, is an important aspect of developing interior environments and exhibits to which visitors can connect.

Design Idea 8
Where Are We?: In contrast with some other cultures, American culture places a great focus on individualism. It has become easy to criticize the “placelessness” of our suburban environments. Encouraging civic gathering and interaction are needed to bring people together. Museums are at the heart of the civic realm and are vital to maintain and foster a sense of identity to our communities.

Design Idea 9
Feng Shui: While it does not need to be taken to an extreme, the basic ideas of the Chinese philosophical system to achieve balance and harmony provide many lessons. Occasionally stepping backing and thinking holistically can restore a sense of order and harmony to your organization.

Design Idea 10
The Death and Life of Great American Cities… and Museums: Given that museums are civic places with a wide variety of activities and functions, they can benefit from drawing some connections to urban planning. Museums want to maintain diversity and density while creating multiple options where every visitor can have their own special experience.

Join G&HA for the Inaugural SEMC Bowl

It’s an ACC vs. SEC showdown in Savannah with the first ever G&HA SEMC Bowl! Join Glavé & Holmes Architecture (G&HA) at the Southeastern Museums Conference to support your favorite southeastern NCAA football team and talk to our Cultural Studio leader, Steven Blashfield. Steven will also be presenting, “Five MORE Design Ideas Every Museum Professional Should Know,” a follow-up to his presentation last year.

Glavé & Holmes Architecture is an award-winning architectural and interior design firm based in Richmond, Virginia. We provide design services for museums and cultural properties, higher education campuses, and hospitality projects throughout the southeast. Come see us at Booth 321 to discuss your project and play in G&HA’s SEMC Bowl. Participants will be entered to win a $50 gift card.

Read more details about the conference here.

G&HA helps VHS renew “Story of Virginia”

Glavé & Holmes Architecture (G&HA) is excited to be working with the Virginia Historical Society (VHS) to upgrade existing facilities for “The Story of Virginia” exhibit.

G&HA and the VHS have shared a long-standing relationship over the past 25 years. G&HA previously designed three major additions for the museum, which contain the library, galleries, and archival storage. These three additions envelop the original Battle Abbey – initially built as a Memorial in 1912.

For details about ongoing activities at the Virginia Historical Society, see recent articles in the Richmond Times-Dispatch or in Richmond BizSense.

About Glavé & Holmes Architecture’s Cultural Studio
The Cultural Studio was generated out of a core focus area in the history of Glavé & Holmes Architecture. Jim Glavé’s original passion and interest was in revitalization and preservation, which often manifested itself through museum projects and work with cultural sites. The studio’s ongoing focus is on these cultural facilities – places that draw the community for congregation, learning and reflection. These are the properties that reflect the culture, personality and uniqueness of communities from the micro to the macro scale. To learn more about G&HA’s Cultural Studio or see select projects, visit www.glaveandholmes.com.