Chronicle Mill
Belmont, North Carolina
Architect/Designer | BB+M Architecture
Builder | Armada Hoffler Construction
Developer | Armada Hoffler
Landscape Architect/Designer | Site Solutions, LLC
Interior Designer | BB+M Architecture
Interior Merchandiser | BB+M Architecture
Photographers | Tim Buchman | Easterday Creative
Constructed in 1901, Chronicle Mill was the first textile mill in Belmont, N.C., that eventually was abandoned in 2010. When it was finally targeted for reuse as a multifamily building, an insurmountable list of hurdles nearly throttled the project.
The site contained some problems, mainly the structure being a conglomeration of tacked-on ancillary spaces overrun with decay. To make workable unit depths, the first and last structural bays of the newer sections were removed while a fourth level was added onto the roof. Remnant sections of the existing facade were preserved to signify where the mill once stood. The new facade is a modern interpretation of the mill that retains the simple rhythm of the existing facade’s fenestration and sloped roofline without being an exact replica.
The interior design concept pays homage to the original purpose of the mill. Design elements such as the handwoven art panels and rope ceiling in the clubhouse represent obvious ties to the textile industry. Many FF&E pieces feature salvaged and repurposed items from the original mill. The newly developed retail, F+B space and large outdoor gathering areas encourage the public to take part in reclaiming Chronicle Mill as the social hub of Belmont.
