Issue 17

April 2012

Mills Group Newsletter

Newsletter Logo

BUILDING BLOCKS

In This Issue..
WVU Greek Master Plan
Sweet Frog
Chestnut Mountain Ranch
Enterprise Technician Advisor
Welcome Our New Employee
Find us on Facebook
Quick Links
The Mills Group Website
The Firm and Staff Profile
Other Projects

Mills Group in the News
Morgantown Marketplace

Welcome to another issue of Building Blocks and our connection to you on the news and events of the Mills Group. 
 

We look forward to your comments and input with our newsletter.

 

Michael J. Mills

PROJECT PROFILE

WVU Greek Master Plan
 
  

West Virginia University Greek Fraternities and Sororities have identified a need for strategic planning of existing and future facilities. Initiating current chapter presidents, alumni, University and City officials, and local landowners, this preliminary plan outlays the feasibility of such efforts for WVU and the community.

 

Visioning with Student Organization Services, Mills Group has further identified opportunities and constraints as they pertain to land use within the University and throughout the Morgantown community; the design team sought to improve safety and walkability through upgraded lighting, defined pedestrian right-of-ways, and sustainable stormwater management in amongst such buildings, strengthening Greek social life on campus and promoting attraction and retention throughout all chapters. Through cooperative amenities, such as shared roads, green space, recreation, parking, and even dining, the mission of Student Organization Services will be better served through fraternal opportunities.

 

The WVU Greek Masterplan well accommodates Greek and Greek Revival architecture, further emphasizing order. The iconic site atop downtown Morgantown can be seen upon entry to the city from three directions; its presence serves as the city's "Acropolis". Focus of the masterplan was mainly detailed in the Belmar Avenue axis of the city, seeking for safer and more remarkable connection to the Mountainlair, the campus student union. Additionally, the walkability and connectivity of "Fraternity Row" with other sororities of Price, Prospect, and Spruce Street was of equal importance to the presence of Greek life throughout the campus community.

 

 


COMING SOON TO MORGANTOWN - University Town Center 

 

Mills Group aided Bay Watch Development Group

in navigating City Codes and securing the building permits and ensured the new interior layout followed all ADA and Fire codes.  We began  by documenting the existing space and developed demolition drawings.  We then created construction documents

to begin the transformation of the interior space.

http://sweetfrogyogurt.com/


  

Mills Group and Chestnut Mountain Ranch

Mills Group has been working with Chestnut Mountain Ranch School and Boy's Home to help teach their students how to use Google Sketchup, a free 3d modeling program. The students have been using the program to strengthen their creativity skills, while learning about the fields of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.  To learn about Chestnut Mountain Ranch, visit  http://chestnutmountainranch.org/home

 

Enterprise Technical Assistance Provider

Enterprise Green

 

Mills Group is formally announcing its relationship and role with Enterprise Green Communities as a Technical Assistance Provider (TAP), providing design review assistance for green and other sustainable design features.

 

Enterprise Green Communities is a non-profit organization in Washington D.C. that provides financing, policy, and development solutions for affordable housing projects across the country. Comprised of green building, technology, and planning experts, Enterprise Community Partners offers certification through green building criteria that is focused on affordable housing.

 

The green building certification is unique, in that it has evolved into organized of three geographical categories: 1) urban, 2) suburban, and 3) rural. Moreover, the rural criteria is well aligned to affordable housing projects in the state of West Virginia and provides opportunity to developers, housing authorities, and other governmental agencies.

More information on Enterprise Green Communities can be found online at

www.enterprisecommunity.com

 

Mills Group is now searchable on the Enterprise TA website:

http://www.enterprisecommunity.com/solutions-and-innovation/enterprise-green-communities/resources/technical-assistance-providers-database


Mills Group Welcomes a New Employee

 

Jared Gorby

Jared is a landscape designer at the Mills Group. A recent graduate of the landscape architecture program at West Virginia University, Jared uses his skills with sketch-up to design outdoor spaces, trace the development patterns of historic properties and create accident scene recreations. Jared is a West Virginia native who is originally from Bluefield, West Virginia but now resides in Morgantown.