Rowhouse Architects

11/03/2026

What happens when a historic building needs modern updates, but there's very little room to make them?

Sometimes the challenges, and discoveries, are hidden in the details.

During the restoration of one of downtown Asheville's most recognizable buildings, the Rowhouse Architects team encountered everything from historic glass sidewalk pavers to the challenge of fitting a new exit staircase into an existing space.

The staircase was particularly complicated. It needed to connect the eighth floor to the roof, but historic preservation requirements meant it couldn't be visible from the exterior.

Working closely with the general contractor and steel fabricator, the team developed a solution within the footprint of an existing office, incorporating three stair runs and landings and modifying an existing concrete beam to provide the necessary headroom.

The building? Asheville's Flat Iron Hotel.

Originally built in 1926 as an office building, it was transformed into a boutique hotel through a restoration completed in 2024.

It's a reminder that historic preservation involves more than saving what makes a building special. It also requires creative problem-solving to make these spaces work for the future.

There's more to discover about the Flat Iron Hotel's transformation. We'll share another chapter of its story soon!

10/30/2026

Happy Birthday, Robin !🎉

Today we're celebrating Robin Raines!

Whether she's exploring a building, taking in the details of a completed project or out for a run, Robin always seems to be on the move!

We're sharing a few fun moments from The Balladeer Hotel opening in Mount Airy, along with a glimpse of Robin doing something else she loves, running!

Please join us in wishing Robin a wonderful birthday and a year filled with new adventures!

10/27/2026

If you've spent time in downtown Asheville, chances are you've seen or walked through the Grove Arcade. But you may not know that Rowhouse Architects played a role in bringing this historic landmark back to its original purpose.

Construction on the Gothic Revival building began in 1927, with plans for a shopping arcade topped by a 17-story office tower. When the Great Depression began in 1929, construction stopped at the fifth floor.
The Grove Arcade became a center of social and commercial life in Asheville before the federal government took over the building during World War II. It remained in federal use for decades.

In 1998, Rowhouse Architects was hired for the building's renovation, helping return the Grove Arcade to its original function as a mixed-use destination with shops and restaurants on the ground floor and offices and residences above.

For founder Jeff Dalton, the project was also personally significant. As he put it during a recent conversation, "That building changed my life."

The restoration was completed in 2003 and received recognition from AIA North Carolina, AIA Asheville and the Carolinas AGC.

But Rowhouse Architects' connection to the Grove Arcade didn't end there. Over the years, the firm has continued working on projects within the building, including Huli Sue's, and developing studies to help building owners make better use of the spaces and create more flexible leasing opportunities.

More than two decades after its restoration, the Grove Arcade remains one of downtown Asheville's most recognizable landmarks, and a building that continues to be part of the Rowhouse Architects story.

Curious about the building's earlier history? Visit the Grove Arcade's website to explore its historic timeline.

HGA Development (David Rogers with CP+L) | Developer
WeaverCooke | General Contractor

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.