researching the revolution...

I have always heard about this place called "Revolution Mills" but I really had no idea what it was about.
It turns out that one of the reasons the Mills are so well known is because of their associations with the Cone Brothers. The first mill was one that produced denim and known as "Proximity Cotton Mill". This led to the start of a Flannel Factory when the brothers paired up with their friends the Sterbergers. This was actually a pretty big deal because flannel manufacturers did not exists in the south as of then. A Revelation, which is where the name Revolution Mills stems from. The Mill's history can be broken into three major periods. The first period (1900) was when the earliest building was constructed and the operations at the mill started. The second period was in 1904 when the orignal mill's size was doubled. The third period in 1915 was significant because once again the east and west wings of the plant doubled in size. In the sixties the buildings went through a phase of final reconstruction which was pretty significant because it signaled the use of technology. Almost all the building's windows were closed and the exterior was covered in brick veneer. This was all because the benefit of air conditioning was being introduced . Altogether the Revolution Mills were not all that different than other mills judging by appearance. Typical Mills during the 1900's usually maintained a focus on effiency and safety rather than how great the space looks design wise. One overbearing reason many of the mills did structure the buildings the way they are is because of the Insurance Requirements of the day. Some of the spec.'s required were water tight floors, substantial brick firewalls, and large heavy timbers. Although these were chosen to fullfill the insurance companies' spec requirements, it is for these same qualities ( and the history added on as well as many other factors of course) that make these buildings unique and are therefore so desirablel to many today. Like I mentioned before the association the mill has with the Cone family brings much significance to the place ( because the Cones were very influential to Greensboro, being involved in many other enterprises all over). This is one of the reasons why in 1984 the whole complex was set into the National Register of Places ( the other reasons included its associations with Greensboro's significant industrial development and their unique techniques such as the "slow burning process"). Later down the road ( 2003 in February to be exact) the Mill was purchased by Revolution Studio LLC and began a 5 million dollar renovation which turned into a 40 million dollar million dollar project in 2006, thru the Historic Preservation Credits. Maple flooing, large windows, and high ceilings are some of the desirable categories that make the Mill unique. It will be exciting to see this economic center in person. This is what we aspire to do so many times in our projects, focus on community and promoting reuse.

photo courtesy of www.revolutionmillstudios.com as well as the source of the information I researched.