“Elevating the human spirit,” is more than just a tagline for Glavé & Holmes Architecture. It’s our mission in every aspect of our design process. We believe that great design is contextual, timeless and has the capacity to engage the intellect and elevate the human spirit.

In a presentation for the Virginia Association of Museums in 1994, Jim Glavé gave a speech entitled, “All Cities Need Space That Elevates, Celebrates the Human Spirit.” Known locally as the Father of the Preservation Movement, Jim spoke to those in attendance about spiritual space and the health of our communities.

“Until this century, the defining aspect of the world’s great cities has been what I call their ‘spiritual space,’ that is, space devoted not to commerce or habitat, but to the elevation and celebration of the human spirit: parks, cathedrals, museums, monuments, concert halls. When we think of Paris, we think of the Bois de Boulogne, the Louvre, Notre Dame. Rome: St. Peter’s, the Trevi Fountain. London: Albert Hall, the British Museum, and Hyde Park.”

Jim went on to say how vital these types of facilities are to our communities and how we must make it a priority to preserve and protect them. More than 20 years later, his words remain true and at the heart of Glavé & Holmes’ practice. This commitment is evident through our recently completed projects at the Virginia Historical Society, the Valentine Richmond History Center, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and other museums throughout the southeast.

We are excited to have carried this mission beyond cultural buildings to encompass educational facilities, hotels, homes, and civic architecture. Check back in with us for more information and trivia leading up to our 50th Anniversary.