community design studio

redefining affordable housing
through architecture & design

colin m. arnold

Colin Arnold established CDS in 2002 as a community-based design center. As Director of CDS and Vice President of Architecture for CHP, Colin is a LEED® Accredited Professional with over 17 years of experience. He is licensed to practice architecture in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Colin joined CHP in 2001 as a Frederick P. Rose Architectural Fellow and holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

josh holloway

Josh Holloway joined CDS in 2007 and currently serves as a Project Manager. He graduated with his Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech in 2005 and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He is also a Virginia licensed Lead Risk Assessor and has been trained in proper Weatherization and Energy Auditing practices. Josh has experience with LEED for Homes, ENERGY STAR and EarthCraft certified single-family home new construction and multifamily rehabilitation. He brings with him both architecture and construction experience from a variety of professional organizations and serves as a board member with the Southwest Virginia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). In his free time, Josh is also active with an on-campus ministry at Virginia Tech.

joshua galloway

Joshua Galloway, LEED AP, CLA, joined CDS in 2008 after three years as a Rose Architectural Fellow in Richmond, Virginia. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Fine Arts and Landscape Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a master’s degree in Architecture from The University of Virginia. As a licensed Landscape Architect at CDS, Joshua is a LEED® Accredited Professional and a certified Home Energy Rater. Joshua had a landscape architecture practice from 1997-2002 and continues to work with productive landscapes that integrate indoor and outdoor living spaces. He also shares his knowledge and expertise with industry-related organizations, including the Virginia Sustainable Building Network (VSBN), on whose board he serves.

marisa brown- VISTA member

A recent graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in Architecture, Marisa Brown is already an AmeriCorps VISTA program veteran. The Lancaster, Pennsylvania native and LEED Accredited Professional worked as a VISTA member in New Orleans, helping to rebuild the community after Hurricane Katrina. Marisa says she decided to extend her VISTA experience with CHP, “because it seemed like the perfect way for me to give back to a deserving cause while developing my architecture career.”

desiree hollar - VISTA member

Desiree Hollar graduated in May, 2011 from Virginia Tech upon receiving
her Bachelor of Architecture. Originally from Broadway, Virginia, she gained a variety of experiences studying architecture, historic preservation, and sustainable development in her travels to Europe, Fiji, New Zealand, and Antarctica. In the future, Desiree plans to be a licensed architect practicing in historic preservation, adaptive re-use, and small-town, downtown revitalization. Regarding her decision to become a VISTA member, Desiree said, “Service has always been an interest of mine. In particular, I feel that architecture can be used as a humanitarian tool. The VISTA program has provided me an opportunity to further
explore sustainable community building with real-life experience. The more I learn about the VISTA program, the more I’m excited to be a part of it.”

paykon sarmadi - VISTA member

Paykon Sarmadi is also a recent graduate of Virginia Tech, where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture. From Roanoke, Virginia, Paykon gained valuable work experience interning for a design/build firm in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Paykon knew he wanted to be a VISTA member with CHP’s architecture department because, “anyone who is in the position to help people in their community or elsewhere should take that opportunity. Some people do it with money, others with their trade. I’ve been blessed with the skills that I have as an architect-in-training,
and I feel that this is the perfect opportunity for me to use those skills to make the world a better place.”