Mill Street Mixed Use
A modern mixed-use development in central Reno
Reno, NV
-
2023
600 Mill Street is a contemporary mixed-use concept in the heart of Reno, Nevada that integrates modern urban living with a community-focused retail experience. Designed by Copenhaver Architecture, the project envisions a dynamic balance between residential comfort and public engagement. It blends apartments, shops, and outdoor gathering spaces into one cohesive, human-centered environment.
The design was conceived to bring vitality to Mill Street through density, walkability, and local commerce. The project features a composition of connected buildings organized around shared courtyards and open-air corridors that encourage interaction between residents, visitors, and local businesses. A perforated metal screen wraps the exterior, filtering sunlight while providing privacy and texture to the façade.
Natural materials like wood and steel are combined with modern forms to create a warm yet refined atmosphere. The architecture emphasizes transparency at the ground level to activate the streetscape and invite the community inward.
Program and Function
600 Mill Street includes upper-level apartments designed for urban professionals, students, and small families seeking proximity to downtown and the Reno-Tahoe airport. The ground level supports a variety of retail and service uses, including cafes, local boutiques, and wellness-oriented spaces. Outdoor seating, landscaped walkways, and shaded courtyards create opportunities for social connection and relaxation throughout the day.
A central pedestrian spine connects the entire site, allowing for movement between residences, shops, and shared amenities while reinforcing a sense of community.
Sustainability and Context
Sustainability was an early driver of the concept. The design incorporates passive cooling strategies, cross ventilation, and shading devices that reduce heat gain in Reno’s high-desert climate. The landscape features native and drought-tolerant plantings that reflect the regional ecology while minimizing water use.
The architectural language respects the site’s industrial past while projecting a vision of Reno’s future — one defined by thoughtful urban infill, environmental consciousness, and community well-being.
