The Tail Water Mill at Valley Water Mill Dam in Springfield, MO is designed as a response to its surroundings. The multi-plot site is intentionally connected with the creation of visual sightlines and component orientations that create a formal relationship among the program functions.

An existing barn on site is to be refurbished into a showroom and administrative building for the client’s furniture building business, a sawmill is to be placed near the road for the client to process raw wood material in for business, and a watermill is placed at the river’s edge to serve as a restaurant and venue space. The client intends the site to serve as a wedding venue, restaurant, and event space in addition to their commercial needs.

The building’s barrel vault design recalls the native vernacular architecture of the Native American architecture of the area, which personally connects to the client and their business.