Simon Silk Mill
Breathing new life into industrial history through adaptive reuse
Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award for Construction/Rehabilitation, 2020
Location: Easton, PA
Client: VM Development
Date Completed: 2020
Artefact, Inc. was hired to oversee the architectural design and preservation work for the renovation and adaptive reuse of the former R. & H. Simon Silk Mill, a 21-building complex that spans 14 acres along the picturesque Bushkill Creek. The client wished to transform the structure into a mixed-use facility that would include 150 apartments and 100,000 square feet of commercial space.
Prior to the Silk Mill’s rehabilitation, the neglected property had languished for decades, devolving into an EPA brownfield site. Opting to rehabilitate the complex through adaptive reuse rather than demolish it, the project team not only salvaged a valuable piece of historic architecture; it also prevented approximately 32,000 tons of construction waste from going to landfills and preserved the embodied energy present in the existing built structures.
After stabilization, rehabilitation began building by building, with cleaning and repairs to the brick masonry, replacing roofing where necessary, surveying for new wood doors and windows, and developing interior design plans that would showcase the mill’s historic features, including original wood floors, board-and-batten ceilings, heavy timber structural elements, and exposed masonry walls. All new mechanical systems were needed, as well as several updates that would bring the building up to code. In addition, we assisted the client with preparing the site’s nomination for US National Register status and applying for historic tax credits to offset a portion of the renovation costs.
It can be difficult to bring modern conveniences into a historic site; incorporating elevators, accessibility features for individuals with disabilities, and safety elements like guard rails and lighting can present challenges in any preexisting structure, let alone one that is 130 years old. This project showcases that not only is it possible to adapt a historic property to meet contemporary standards; you can do so while highlighting the exceptional elements of the original building’s architecture and design.