From Mill to Modern: Capturing the Revival of Bates Mill No. 7

A little over a week ago, I got on the road well before dawn to head up to Lewiston, ME to photograph a project for Hebert Construction, a client with whom I recently started collaborating. I love Maine, and I really want  to photograph more projects up there!

When I arrived on site, I immediately knew I was in for a treat!

The Bates Mill No. 7 building is a grand relic of Lewiston's industrious past.

Erected in 1880, this four-story, 48,000-square-foot edifice once pulsed with the rhythm of industry. Originally, it served as a storehouse within the expansive Bates Mill Complex, primarily used for storing cotton bales essential for the mill's textile production. This was a place that once housed the raw materials that were to be transformed into the fabrics that kept Mainers cozy.

And now, it lives again.

Platz Associates saw the potential. The bones of the mill were strong. The stories embedded in its brick and timber too rich to demolish. With vision and care, they transformed this historic storehouse into a space that serves the city once more in the form of the Lewiston Police Headquarters.

Hebert Construction took on the task with precision, their craftsmanship ensuring that the mill’s spirit endured. Instead of erasing history, they honored it—exposing brick walls, revealing old wood beams, and even preserving boulders in the locker rooms. 

Raw. Textured. Historic.

This is the kind of work that excites me.

The best buildings don’t just house people—they tell stories. And when those stories are given a second chance, when a structure once destined for ruin is revived, I get all excited about capturing all the revived elements that also have the patina of our past.  

Maine is full of architectural treasures waiting to be documented.

If you’re an architect, a designer, or a builder working to preserve or revitalize history, I want to help tell your story. Let’s create images that honor your craft and the structures you bring back to life.

Repurposing historic buildings is another form of sustainable building, and I want to support that. 

Let’s work together! Email me to get this conversation started!