The Van Raalte Mill
Historic Preservation
This 100,000+ SF historic structure is an excellent example of adaptive reuse. The building once housed Van Raalte, a manufacturer of silk and veils, and then silk stockings and lingerie. The Mill closed in 1986, and 13 years later, the building was abandoned, partly flooded, and parts of the structure were starting to collapse. We partnered with Thomas Roohan to save the building. We renovated the oldest and most architecturally significant southwest end of the building and the 1960-era warehouse at the northeast end and converted them into office space. The middle section was removed to create parking spaces. Renovations were completed in 2001, with plans for more work later. The renovation breathed new life into this structure, taking it from a dilapidated state to a thriving business center and earning recognition from The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation with an outstanding historic preservation projects award.
First photo by IronGlass Productions.