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The adaptive reuse project, Residences at Mill 8, redesigns a former textile manufacturing hub into mixed-income, mixed-use housing for residents 55 years and older in Ludlow, Mass.
Residences at Mill 8
Location
Ludlow, MA
Client
WinnCompanies
Services
Sectors
Historic Preservation + Adaptive Reuse, Mixed-Use, Senior Living
Square Footage
220,000 sf
Number of Units
95
Residences at Mill 8 transform a historic mill building in the former Ludlow Manufacturing Company complex into much-needed mixed-income, mixed-use housing for residents 55 years old and above.
Based in Ludlow, Mass., the complex once served as a manufacturing hub for the region, employing more than 5,000 people and producing jute, webbing, and twine.
The four-story building houses 95 apartment units with 43 affordable units for rent at 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), 40 market-rate units, and 12 units available to residents with income at or below 30% of AMI. On the first floor, project partner Westmass oversaw the development and leasing of 48,000 square feet for the new home of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department.
Residences at Mill 8 is the second phase of developer WinnCompanies’ (a long-time TAT partner) continued adaptive reuse work at the property. In 2017, the company completed the adjacent Residences at Mill 10, a 75-unit community that also offers mixed-income housing for adults 55 and older.
The Restoration of a Local Icon
TAT designers used the original drawings of the historic Mill 8 to aid the meticulous restoration while ensuring the adaptive reuse project is designed to meet the Enterprise Green Communities sustainability standards. The existing masonry, beams, decking, and columns were sandblasted to expose the original beauty of the building, which was covered by layers of paint. The masonry window openings were fully restored, and new thermally broken aluminum windows were matched to the remaining historic windows. Additionally, an existing brick-enclosed shaft, previously used to pass materials between levels of the mill, was repurposed as a stairway in the center of the building.
One of the most unique features of the restoration is the reconstruction of the original monitor roof, enabling sunlight to flood into the third-floor main hallway and many units. In several third-floor apartments, a portion of the home has a clerestory that rises to almost 26 feet, allowing for even more natural light. Additionally, an enclosed courtyard overrun with wild vegetation was completely redesigned into a central outdoor amenities space with access to the indoor lounge.
The mill’s iconic three-story clock tower has been the face of Ludlow’s town seal since 1919. The four clock faces on each side of the tower were fully restored, while the structure’s rotting wood, copper urns, and slate roof were replaced, and now back-lit illumination casts a glow over the historic area at night. The clock’s 3,064-pound bell was produced by Meneely & Co., the same company commissioned to replace the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Penn. The bell rang out for the first time in years during the project’s ribbon cutting.
Balancing History with Modern Design
The interior design thoughtfully balances preservation and modern living, celebrating the structure’s industrial past while introducing a clean, refined, and contemporary aesthetic. The unit program comprises 27 one-bedroom units, 59 one-bedroom units with dens, five two-bedroom units, and four two-bedroom units with dens, each offering a unique living experience shaped by the building’s original mill character. Apartments feature expansive windows, high ceilings, wood floors, and exposed original beams and carpentry, allowing historic craftsmanship to remain a defining element of everyday life.
Throughout the building, original architectural features, including exposed brick, wood deck ceilings, steel beams, expansive windows, and large industrial storm doors, are highlighted by a neutral palette that lets them stand out. Preserved industrial doors anchor the resident lobby, complemented by a realistic electric fireplace that creates a warm and welcoming arrival. The expansive third-floor hallway reveals the original mill catwalk above, with intentional gaps exposing its partial ceiling height, most notably near the clock tower and central stair.
Natural wood elements paired with fresh green and blue accents reinforce a nature-inspired sensibility throughout the building, further expressed through serene graphic wallcoverings in the fitness center and tranquil watercolor wallcoverings in the mailroom. Alternating accent colors personalize unit entries on each level, while shared spaces (including a spacious resident lounge with a kitchenette, café seating, and pool table) foster connection. A custom first-floor art gallery honoring the mill and its workers further grounds the community in its history, while individual work booths on the upper levels provide quiet, modern spaces for focused work.
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