Small Business of the Year 2025
We’re so honored to have been named Small Business of the Year for Norfolk! This honor is especially meaningful as we celebrate our 10th anniversary. A decade of growth, challenges overcome, and building something we’re truly proud of in...
CoVaBiz Impact Makers
We’re proud to share that Suping Li was featured in the January issue of CovaBIZ magazine as one of the Women Impact Makers. She’s honored to be recognized alongside so many impressive women making a difference in their communities a...
EdVenture Campus Project won HRACRE Design Award
Virginia Zoo EdVenture and Exploration Campus has been honored with the HRACRE (Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate) Award of Excellence in the Best Conceptual Project Category! A heartfelt thank you to the Virginia Zoo ...
Professional Building won HRACRE Award
We’re excited to share that our Professional Building Adaptive Reuse project in downtown Portsmouth has been recognized with an HRACRE (Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate) Award of Merit in the Best Renovated or Histo...
Gallery House – A New Version of Coastal Living
We’re excited to share the recently completed Gallery House, a project that highlights our team’s dedication and creativity. Collaborating closely with our clients and partners throughout the design and construction phases was incredibly...
Q&A: What are the Key Steps to Launch a Successful Commercial Project?
Initiating a commercial project might seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach, you can set your project up for success. Let’s explore the key steps together. Define Your Vision: Clearly articulate the goals of your project...
Q&A: What type of projects does your firm do?
Our firm specializes in both commercial and residential projects. GARC has a solid reputation for delivering successful outcomes in both project types. Our design process is user-centered and research-oriented, allowing us to understand ...
Breathing New Life into Old Spaces: An Adaptive Reuse Case Study
The Albemarle Building, constructed in 1905, originally served as a hotel. In the 1980s, it was renovated into a law office. Today, the upper floors have been converted into boutique apartments, offering elegant contemporary living in th...
We’ve Moved in 2022
We are excited to announce that GARC has moved into our long-term home at 112 Granby St. Suite 400 in downtown Norfolk since September 2022. This was determined after a lengthy search for a new office location that could meet our...
Q&A: When should I engage an architect for a commercial project?
Engage an architect as early in the commercial project development process as possible, ideally at the concept or pre-design phase. Early architect involvement helps identify potential challenges or opportunities, saving time, money, and...
HRACRE Design Awards
GARC won two HRACRE design awards this year! Got Fish? for Best Recreation/Entertainment/Hospitality Project Merit Award and Get Well Soon for Best Interior Excellence Award. We want to thank our clients for the opportunities of...
How to Check the Zoning Requirements for Your Project
In our previous article post, we discussed the Three Things to Check Before Buying and Renovating a House in the Hampton Roads area. To make a long story short, those three things are: Zoning, Floodplain Ordinance and the Chesapeake Bay ...
Working From Home – Challenges and Solutions
After staying at home for more than a month, the challenges of WFH are starting to reveal themselves. One significant challenge many people are finding is how to separate work and personal life, as this was previously separated by their ...
Connecting Dots
Our clients from Get Well Soon sent us this piece writing about their business. Thanks for the shout out to our design! “The duo relied on Norfolk-based architects, GARC Design, to help create all of the interior drawings and rendering...
Q&A: How to Jumpstart My Commercial Project?
Are you looking to start your own business and need an inspiring space? Perhaps you have two spaces in mind but not sure which one will align better with your business plan? Maybe you want to renovate your current space to attract more...
Happy Fall!
Our summer was jam packed with exciting projects. Check out some of the recent projects that we have been working on in the Hampton Roads area since our last report. We are so excited for Patrick and Maria at the Ruff House Stay and Play...
Creating A Prototype For A Simple Food Restaurant
Opened this past October, our most recent restaurant project, Honoka Teriyaki Express, is located at the intersection of Indian River and Kempsville road. As Honoka Teriyaki Express is the first one of this teriyaki chain restaurant, it...
