Building Blocks - Issue 39

Project Focus: Myles Center for the Arts

Mills Group is in the process of designing an update to the existing Myles Plaza at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WV. Inspired by the arts, the design incorporates motifs related to sheet music, dance, and rhythm, and creates a welcoming outdoor space that can serve as a classroom, lecture space, or event venue. More importantly, the redesigned plaza will create a variety of usable spaces that students and visitors can enjoy year-round.

Employee Focus: Michael Mills SBA Award

Michael Mills, Managing Principal, was nominated and selected as this year’s West Virginia Small Businessperson of the Year by the Small Business Administration. Michael traveled to our nation’s capital to accept his award along with the winners from all 50 states and US territories.

“I feel very privileged to have been selected. It’s a statewide award that recognizes the work of my team and my partners at Mills Group. It takes a team effort to make great things happen. We’re fortunate to get to see things come out of the ground that last for generations.”

- Michael Mills

Technology Focus: 3D Scanning

The integration of point cloud scanning is one of the most important and game-changing additions to our ever-evolving technology toolkit. This scanning process works by sending out and then collecting and analyzing a large set of data points within a given coordinate system, also known as a ”point cloud.” These data points gather details on the location being scanned that pertain to distance, size, shape, and color and then return that information back to the scanner. After canvasing an entire location of interior and/or exterior spaces, the scanner then registers a highly accurate composite point cloud model which is used by our architects to verify existing structures as well as create trustworthy models for new designs.

In addition to the incredible sub-centimeter accuracy of the scanning data, it also gathers 360° HD imagery that can be used to give our clients fully-immersive walkthroughs of their space. These images can also be integrated into our Virtual Reality interface for an even greater effect.

Further benefits to leveraging this technology include measuring and analyzing unreachable areas, utilizing the thermal camera to understand heat transmission or reveal insulation vulnerabilities, and to present our designs in visually rich and dynamic ways.

Historic Surveys

Mills Group is in the process of completing updates to two distinct historic districts located in Moorefield, WV and Wheeling, WV, respectively. Listed in 1984, Moorefield is located in Hardy County and is significant for its role in the development and proliferation of the lumber, tanning, and agricultural industries throughout the state. The updated district will encompass all buildings with historic integrity built up until 1969, the end of the historic period, as well as an expanded boundary to include approximately 160 additional historically-significant structures. Located in Ohio County, Wheeling is significant as the state’s first urban center and site of the first state capitol, as well as an early center of industry. Listed in 1978, the updated district will encompass all buildings with historic integrity built throughout the historic period.

Maple Drive

Mills Group designed a 12,400 sf mixed use development at 1053 Maple Drive in Morgantown, WV for RJP Enterprises. The upper consists of 6,400 sf of office space and the lower level provides 6,000 sf of tenant space for retail and office occupancies. Mills Group is providing architectural services along with engineering consultant coordination from design through construction administration, including tenant fit-out services. The project is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion on November 1, 2019.

WLU Master Plan

Mills Group recently completed the Master Plan for West Liberty University. The design components included site modeling, graphic analysis and data synthesis while the production components included design/plan solutions, coordination and review, and a magazine-style printed master planning document.This process included combining and synthesizing our current campus analysis with long and short-term goals from the Committee that helped us understand how to tailor design recommendations in a manner which was action-oriented and time-sensitive. The core planning team was comprised of architects, designers, and planners from Mills Group alongside the WLU Planning Advisory Committee.

Community Bank

Renovations are currently underway at the Community Bank of Parkersburg, located on Juliana Street in Downtown Parkersburg. Mills Group worked with bank officials to develop a Master Plan of renovations for their existing second floor area and the building façade, which then developed into design and construction documents.

Phase 1 renovations include installation of a new elevator to provide accessibility to the second floor as well as the conversion of a board room on the first floor to a new executive office and elevator lobby.

Phase 2 renovations include the development of the second floor into a new workable space that includes 9 offices, a board room, toilet rooms, support spaces (storage and a kitchenette) and updated mechanical, electrical, plumbing and life safety systems. In addition, the bank façade will be getting updated finishes and new windows.

We are excited to be a part of the expansion of this Parkersburg institution.