1 - This is the third Artspace project designed by the firm. It is an adaptive reuse of a late 19th-century textile mill, supporting the ongoing cultural and economic development in the area. The abandoned 80,000 sq. ft. mill is converted into a 48-unit complex of living and studio space for artists to reside and work. Essential to the ArtSpace community concept, is a spacious gallery of 4,000 sq. ft., typically at the main level, allowing resident artists to exhibit their work on a rotational basis.

The goal of historic preservation was challenged by the building's location, on the banks of the Willimantic River. In order for the river to remain integral to the aesthetics of the old mill, we designed a solution utilizing reinforced glass block windows and steel reinforced masonry to create a barrier to the water at the lower levels. Another challenge was the crumbling wooden structure. Preservation of the granite exterior envelope populated by large windows, required careful demolition and replacement of the wooden structure with a new steel structure.