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Rehabilitation is defined as the act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values. Star Mill is a “priceless” project for this area of the state of Utah, with not many historic buildings and even fewer opportunities for them to be restored or rehabilitated. The success of this project was based on fluid collaboration from all party’s involved in the design process.

Beginning with the owner, GreerCo., having unique mission as described in their own words:”At GreerCo., we find the unique, old spaces and invest in their story. We reimagine existing spaces with a goal to preserve the past while improving a building’s use for the future, capitalizing on their unique features to maintain character and inspire creativity. It has been said that the greenest buildings are those that are already built, and GreerCo. takes pride in renovating some of the most interesting buildings in Utah”.(http://thegreerco.com/#/properties) Applying this vision to Star Mill left the story of the original building untarnished and allowed the story to carry on into new beginnings.

Next, in connection with GreerCo., Curtis Miner Architecture considered the vision of GreerCo., rehabilitated the existing with a designed addition that would support businesses need for more floor space, and maintained the story of the original building. The Addition was made to appear as an addition fairly early in the life of the Original Star Mill but late enough that the language had an opportunity to change through developing construction trends. Inconnection with that concept a new trend in architecture today, a process known as CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) construction was used as the floors and doubled as finished ceilings. This leads to the final key to collaboration with SIRQ Construction and their management of the inclusions of Timberworks and RightWay Steel. Timberworks were the framing subcontractor who also built and installed the CLT panels for the floors. And Right Way Steel fabricated and installed the steel for the circular stair housed within one of the original building’s storage silo.