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. 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.

james ruhland, III

James Ruhland, III joined CDS in 2005 and brings over seven years of architectural experience to the position of Project Manager. He holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is a LEED® Accredited Professional. He has experience with a variety of project types including government, public housing, museums, and private residental. James also donates graphic design services to Roanoke College's Theatre Department.

josh holloway

Josh Holloway joined CDS in 2007 and currently serves as an Apprentice Architect. He graduated with his bachelor's in Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2005 and is a LEED® Accredited Professional. Josh brings with him both architecture and construction experience from a variety of organizations, and also volunteers for an on-campus ministry at Virginia Tech, Habitat for Humanity, and the Red Cross.

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 and Apprentice Architect for 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.

VISTA members

emily albright

Emily Albright is from Jericho, Vermont and attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, during and after which time she worked for Scott & Partners Architects in Essex, Vermont. Albright received her Bachelor of Architecture last year, and looks forward to her time as a VISTA member “as a chance to partake in a productive adventure where I can see new places and explore new options while still being able to contribute to the community.” The self-described game enthusiast also enjoys biking, cooking, and travel.

charlie mcfarland

University of North Carolina Charlotte graduate Charlie McFarland recently received his Bachelor of Architecture and has logged hours working in Charlotte at Perkins Eastman Architects, The Charlotte Community Design Studio, and Ryan-Harris Urban Design and Planning. Passionate about camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities, McFarland would like to become a licensed Architect and work in the realm of sustainable development. “I chose to participate in the VISTA program because of the opportunity to work with CHP. I am very excited to gain experience from a place where development, architecture, construction, and so many other fields related to the built environment happen under one roof,” said the Greensboro native.

mackenzie stagg

Hailing from Alabaster, Alabama, Mackenzie Stagg received her Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University in 2008. Stagg has spent time working at Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio in Birmingham, AL, but prefers to play Ultimate Frisbee in her free time. According to Stagg, “I believe that my training can be used for more than creating buildings. I also think we should use our skills for breaking down society’s issues and pulling together the resources needed to solve problems. This is a fit with the VISTA model and this seemed like the perfect time to be a VISTA. The economy is less than ideal and finding full-time employment is tough, so I decided to commit a year to helping others through the VISTA program."

dylan stevens

Dylan Stevens graduated this past spring from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. While in school, he worked as a Landscape Architecture intern at Bernier Carr and Associates in Watertown, New York. An avid golfer and sailor, Stevens would like to eventually join a Landscape Architecture firm which specializes in Urban Design and Planning. The Chaumont, New York native sees the VISTA experience as “an opportunity to gain some really interesting and rewarding experience in the field of Landscape Architecture, in an atmosphere unlike any typical entry-level position."