Rowhouse Architects

10/22/2026

Different roles. A shared approach.

Collaboration has been part of Rowhouse Architects since Jeff Dalton founded the firm in 1994.

Today, that same approach continues through Jeff, Robin Raines and Shawn McKeever, each bringing different experience, perspectives and responsibilities to the work.

Together, they share a commitment to thoughtful design, strong relationships and creating places of lasting value.

With Robin stepping into the role of President, Rowhouse's next chapter builds on the collaborative culture that has shaped the firm for more than three decades.

Different strengths, shared values and a continued commitment to the communities we serve.

10/20/2026

We're pleased to announce that Robin Raines has been named President of Rowhouse Architects!

Since joining the firm in 2002, Robin has helped shape Rowhouse's work, relationships and collaborative approach to architecture.

Her new role is a natural progression of the leadership she has helped build alongside founder Jeff Dalton and partner Shawn McKeever .

As Rowhouse enters this next chapter, Robin will continue guiding the firm with the same commitment to thoughtful design, collaboration and creating lasting value for the communities we serve.

Read the full announcement and learn more about what's ahead for Rowhouse Architects:
https://rowhouse-architects.com/news/rainesaspresident

10/15/2026

When Robin Raines joined Rowhouse Architects in 2002, she already had her eye on one particular Asheville building: the Grove Arcade.

Before moving to Asheville, Robin had worked on housing and historic rehabilitation projects in Chicago. She remembers seeing the Grove Arcade before its restoration, with some of its windows still filled with yellow brick, and knowing she wanted to be part of bringing the building back to life.

Then a bike ride helped put her on the path to doing exactly that.

Robin met Rowhouse founder Jeff Dalton through a group of friends who rode together and learned that he was working on the Grove Arcade. She sent him her résumé and, as Robin tells it, kept after him until he hired her.

That persistence paid off. Robin joined Rowhouse and had the opportunity to work on the very building that had caught her attention.

More than two decades later, that passion for giving existing buildings new life remains an important part of Robin’s work, alongside her commitment to affordable housing and creating places that contribute to the communities they serve.

Robin also joined Architectette for a conversation about her path in architecture, housing in Asheville, and rebuilding with respect and resilience following Hurricane Helene.

Listen to the conversation: https://podtail.com/podcast/architectette/067-robin-raines-an-architect-helping-rebuild-ashe/

10/13/2026

Architecture Explained | Bringing a Historic Turret Back to Life

Sometimes historic restoration starts with an old photograph.

For the Zelda Dearest project, Rowhouse Architects used historic photos to design and specify a replica of the building’s original turret, bringing back an architectural feature that had disappeared over time.

But recreating a historic detail is rarely as simple as matching what you see in a photograph. Once construction began, the turret design had to be revised to work with the building’s existing conditions and the construction materials available today.

That balance between historic character and present-day realities is an important part of preservation work. The goal is not just to recreate how something looked, but to find a way to make it work for the building that exists now.

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

When Jeff Dalton founded Rowhouse Architects in 1994, he set out to create a firm where architects could bring their individual strengths to the work while learning from one another along the way.

More than 30 years later, Jeff’s influence can be seen not only in the buildings and projects Rowhouse has helped shape, but also in the way the firm approaches the work.

His career has included historic rehabilitation, adaptive reuse and projects that have become part of the fabric of Asheville and communities throughout Western North Carolina.

Over the years, the firm has grown, changed and welcomed new voices, while holding onto an approach Jeff valued from the beginning: Thoughtful design, shared problem-solving, a commitment to understanding what each client hopes to achieve, and respect for the places and communities each project becomes part of.

As Rowhouse moves into its next chapter, Jeff remains an important part of the story and the foundation the firm continues to build on.

10/06/2026

How do you design something new next to one of Asheville’s most recognizable historic neighborhoods?

The Broadway sits just outside the Montford Historic District, which made the surrounding architecture an important part of the design conversation.

Rather than trying to replicate what was already there, the goal was to create something new that complemented its surroundings while having an identity of its own.

Inspired by urban brownstones, the development includes 22 townhouses across three buildings, with stoops facing Broadway and details that help connect the project to the character of the neighboring streets.

That approach earned The Broadway a 2022 Griffin Award for Infill Development, recognition that Robin Raines says was especially meaningful for a new construction project alongside a historic district.

Good infill does not have to imitate the past. It can respect what is already there while adding something new to the story of a place.

10/01/2026

If you’ve spent time in Asheville’s River Arts District, you've likely come across The Radical. But you may not know the history behind the building, or that Rowhouse Architects was part of bringing it back to life.

Built in the 1920s, the five-story building once served as a breakfast cereal factory and later as a wholesale grocery distribution hub before eventually sitting abandoned.

Through adaptive reuse, the historic building was transformed into the 70-room Radical Hotel, opening in 2023. Elements of the building’s past remain visible today, including exposed brick, towering concrete columns and original street art.

The project received a 2024 Griffin Award for Adaptive Reuse and has continued to receive national attention, including being named one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2025.
It’s a building with a very different purpose today, while its history remains an important part of what makes The Radical distinctive.

Project Team:
Rowhouse Architects | Architecture
Hatteras Sky | Developer
Beverly-Grant, Inc. | General Contractor
Suomi Design Works | Interiors



Photography credits to both : David Mitchell / JBSA and Matt Kisiday

09/28/2026

Rowhouse Architects is proud to be the architect for Givens Communities at Webster Village, a new affordable senior housing community that will officially break ground on October 20 in Jackson County.

The project will bring 120 affordable apartment homes for seniors to a larger 48-acre, multi-income community planned in Sylva, North Carolina.

The vision extends beyond housing. Webster Village is being planned as an intergenerational community where older adults, children and families can live alongside one another, with supportive services and shared amenities built into the community.

Givens Webster Village received a $10.3 million HUD Section 202 award and was one of only 11 projects nationwide selected for funding in that award cycle.

We're excited to celebrate this milestone alongside Givens Communities, Mountain Projects, Inc. and Western Carolina University as Webster Village moves from planning toward construction.