Building Blocks
Issue 57

Mills Group was enlisted to conceptualize and design a unique boutique hotel to complement the soon to be completed lion habitat in The Good Zoo at Oglebay Park in West Virginia.

The project consists of a new steel framed masonry construction, four story building totaling approximately 20,000 sq. ft. The structure includes an elevator and two stair towers providing access to all levels.

The majority of the program is dedicated to 12 boutique hotel rooms, along with a self-service lobby and two elevated party decks located on levels two and three. The design emphasizes a direct relationship to the adjacent animal habitat, offering guests a distinctive and immersive hospitality experience closely tied to the zoo environment.

We’re excited to welcome Eric Dowdy as a Design Associate at Mills Group. With seven years of experience working in a small firm in Greenbrier County, Eric brings a strong background in both design and technology to our team.

Originally from White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Eric’s professional journey has taken him across the state, most recently to Harman, WV. Drawn by the firm’s reputation for quality work, he eagerly pursued the opportunity to join Mills Group and be part of our Elkins office. Eric holds a Master of Architecture from Fairmont State University and is an honors society graduate. He is also proud to have served as Past President of the White Sulphur Springs Lions Club.

Outside the office, Eric enjoys camping and reading fantasy novels—passions that reflect his creativity and appreciation for exploration, both in and out of design. Eric’s outlook on his work is summed up in a quote by William Morris:
“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.”

We’re thrilled to have Eric on board and look forward to the talent and perspective he brings to our team!

Happy Anniversary to Keatan Wheeling (3 years), CJ Smith (2 years), Alexis Behrens (6 years), Ryan McClain (9 years) John Tingley (4 years), Stephen DeNeui (4 years), Dan Garvin (3 years), RJ Spellman (4 years)

Mills Group is excited to adopt a cutting-edge photogrammetry and mesh-generation workflow that converts standard photo images of buildings into accurate, textured 3D meshes. This new software streamlines capture-to-model processes by automatically aligning photographs, generating high-fidelity geometry, and producing clean, exportable meshes compatible with our existing BIM and CAD toolchains. The result is faster site documentation, improved accuracy for as-built conditions, and a reliable digital asset that preserves architectural details and materials.

Integrating these meshes into our modeling and rendering pipeline enables more realistic visualizations and efficient design iterations, while optimized outputs support physical fabrication through 3D printing. By leveraging this technology, Mills Group enhances collaboration across design, engineering, and construction teams, reduces time and cost in upstream verification, and delivers clearer client communications with both photorealistic renders and tangible scale models.

Mills Group is thrilled to get to participate in the rehabilitation of the historic Creigh House in Lewisburg. This highly-storied home has been meticulously researched and will undergo a restoration of its Victorian-era wrap-around porch. The interior will also receive a lift to transform it into a bespoke hospitality space. This historic preservation project will take direct feedback from the WV State Historic Preservation Office to make sure that the historic environment is protected and displayed for the public.

We are always looking for opportunities to save, protect, and restore historic buildings in our communities, as these structures are the embodiment of previous chapters in our story. Cleverly adapting and ensuring the survival of our shared architectural heritage and designing context-sensitive projects is the key to retaining a place’s unique sense of character and wonder, and Mills Group plays a major role throughout our region.

Mills Group is advancing an exciting new headquarters project that builds on prior programming work to translate data-driven planning into a cohesive architectural vision. Located on a prominent urban site bounded by 8th Street, Avery Street, 9th Street, Clay Street, and the adjacent Zion Baptist Church property, the new facility will serve as a key civic and organizational presence within its surrounding context.

Design priorities focus on a highly functional yet welcoming workplace, with program elements distributed to support daily operations and long-term growth. A first-floor lobby with teller services and adjacent drive-through lanes will support public-facing functions, while a second-floor training room will foster staff development and collaboration. An executive third floor will feature a boardroom and an outdoor rooftop patio, extending the workplace experience into an open-air setting and balancing operational efficiency, flexibility, and modern amenities.

Mills Group partnered with West Virginia Living Co. to design and construct a custom pop-up retail kiosk for the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport, creating a vibrant showcase for products made and inspired by the Mountain State. Designed and constructed by Mills Group, the kiosk reflects the creativity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurial spirit of West Virginia through a warm, inviting retail environment tailored to the fast-paced airport setting.

The project required a highly collaborative and hands-on approach, with Mills Group team members overseeing every phase from concept development and fabrication to final installation. To meet the airport’s operational schedule, our team completed the final assembly and detailing overnight on site, transforming the space into a polished and engaging storefront by morning.

Now open in the new terminal, West Virginia Living Co. offers travelers a curated collection of West Virginia-made and West Virginia-themed products, including local food, art, and handcrafted goods that celebrate the talent and creativity of makers across the state. The initiative was made possible through collaboration with WV Living, the Benedum Foundation, and Pittsburgh International Airport, giving visitors from around the world the opportunity to experience a small piece of “Almost Heaven” while traveling.

At Wilson Lodge within Oglebay Park Resort, Mills Group’s transformational entrance addition and site redevelopment recently received recognition through AIA West Virginia Design Awards, celebrating the project’s thoughtful integration of architecture, landscape, accessibility, and guest experience. The project reimagines the lodge’s arrival sequence through selective demolition and renovation of approximately 67,300 square feet of drive, parking, and circulation areas, creating a more coherent, elegant, and accessible entry experience for visitors.

Site improvements included the removal and replacement of sidewalks, drive lanes, parking areas, and associated utilities to establish a clear and welcoming approach to the lodge. The existing front porch structure, including columns, upper deck, and roof, was carefully modified to accommodate a new porte-cochere supported by wood-clad steel framing and stone-clad concrete piers, blending seamlessly with the lodge’s established architectural character while introducing a renewed sense of scale and prominence.

The award-winning design incorporates sustainable site strategies directly into the guest experience through a rain garden that captures and manages roof runoff. A new waterfall and signage feature create a memorable sense of arrival, strengthening the resort’s identity while enhancing both functionality and visual impact. The completed entrance transformation now serves not only as a practical improvement to circulation and accessibility but also as a defining architectural landmark for the resort experience at Wilson Lodge