Mills Group Blog

Mills Group Blog

Making an Impact

01/29/2012 -- Michael Mills

01/29/2012

Making an Impact

The impact that an architect can make on their society comes in many forms and in various scales.  Many think of an architect in terms of strictly producing "blueprints" for the products of their creative thinking on projects of varying scales.  I have been fortunate in my career as an architect to have worked on some of the Nation's most treasured cultural resources and have had the opportunity to work with some of the Nation's most talented preservation consultants.

The Mills Group was privileged to have been part of the team to restore the decorative finishes within the historic court room of West Virginia's Independence Hall.  John Canning Studios lead the effort to design and execute the decorative works within the room in order to restore the room to the 1863 period of significance and the Mills Group developed the Maintenance Manual to ensure the longevity of the work product.

I have had the opportunity to work with John Canning and his staff of several past projects, all with success that has exceeded our client's expectations.  I have collaborated in his studio in Connecticut,eaten lunch with Governor Manchin with him, and presented with him in front of cultural critics.   With every collaboration I have gained additional knowledge and respect for the talents of the experts in our field.

Look to make the difference with your next project and learn from your next collaboration.

Carnegie Hall

11/30/2011 -- Michael Mills

11/30/2011

Carnegie Hall

A successful WV State Historic Preservation Office project that preserved the exterior painted surfaces of the Carnegie Hall In Lewisburg, WV.

North House Portico

11/30/2011 -- Michael Mills

11/30/2011

North House Portico

A successful WV State Historic Preservation Office project that restored the front portico of the North House Museum owned by the Greenbrier Historical Society.

Architect as Road Warrior

11/30/2011 -- Michael Mills

11/30/2011

Architect as Road Warrior

Our consulting practice is growing beyond north central West Virginia; in the last month I and members of the staff have found ourselves in the central and southern parts of the state.  It is not uncommon to put 400 to 500 miles on the company vehicle is any one day.

The last two days I have spent time on the road.  The trip started in Lewisburg, WV; a quaint town some 180 miles from Morgantown voted the 2011 coolest town in America, working on Carnegie Hall.  The other stops on the return north included Camp Wood a CCC  historic site and the Pearl S, Buck Birthplace.  My overnight stop involved battling 30 mile an hour winds and a snow storm to get to a friend's condo on Snowshoe Mountain that we are developing a renovation plan for.  This morning I awoke to four inches of snow and a cold walk to inspect a restaurant project, the Sunset Cantina, with in the Snowshoe Mountain Village.

Some days I feel more like a road warrior rather than an architect but it is a great feeling to be the consultant of choice for so of the most significant properties in West Virginia.

Arts Walk 2011

10/25/2011 -- Michael Mills

10/25/2011

Arts Walk 2011

On October 14th the Mills Group participated in another wonderful Mainstreet Morgantown Arts Walk event. We were pleased to host a friend and talented artist, Michael Doig.

Michael Doig creates mixed media paintings usingOil, Acrylic, and  Encaustic. He received a BFA from WVU. Much of his artwork reflects a deep appreciation and respect for the interrelated and complex systems of nature and society. "My upbringing in the hills of West Virginia has greatly influenced my work, and has led to a general recurring theme of 'Appalachia' and the relationship of humans to a changing landscape and environment."

We enjoyed an evening sharing our office space to support the arts.