The project is an adaptive reuse of a historic small-town feed mill that once provided agricultural animal feeds and seeds for the local farming community. Built in the 1930s, it still contains the original vertical conveyor belt, a deeply recessed concrete pit, a small mezzanine, and a floor scale for weighing carts of feed. The exposed roof structure is a fascinating spiderwork of exposed hand-made lumber trusses. There are two large openings with overhead doors as well as ten small windows at two levels.

The owners are locals that love the town and have invested in its welfare. They bought the empty buildings not only to revitalize them but also to influence the rehabilitation of neighboring ag-industrial buildings on the edge of town. They were drawn to the vacant feed mill because of its history as well as the agricultural-industrial aspect. They envisioned a new home for themselves with an urban loft feel.

The layout of the open ground floor and mezzanine lent itself to reuse as an urban style loft apartment. The mezzanine became the bedroom suite, the space under the mezzanine became the kitchen, bar, and dining, and the open main floor became the living space. Even the pit had a use – it became what we called the Wine Shaft where wine is stored and celebrated. The two large exterior openings were ideal for large window walls to bring daylight into the large open space. New steel and wood stairs and steel landing/bridge connect the mezzanine to the main floor. New cabinetry creates spaces like the reading nook and kitchen and bedroom while doing double duty as railings for the mezzanine and around the edge of the Wine Shaft.