The project transformed the 1844 Seneca Knitting Mill, a 3 ½ story historic stone mill building located on a branch of the Erie Canal system, into a permanent home for the Hall creating a state-of-the art facility and vibrant educational venue. The Center enables national and international visitors, scholars, tourists, and the community to discover and be inspired by a rich heritage centered around the stories of great American women.

CJS Architects provided the masterplan and architectural services for the Center for Great Women through restoring the existing Mill and a creation of a new addition. The masterplan kept the Old Stone Mill as the central, iconic feature of the site. All proposed architectural elements were inserted onto the site according to pre-existing building footprints, with an aesthetic of simple extruded forms in character with the orthogonal and regularly sited building that once existed.

Specifically, the renovation project included the programming of 4 existing floors of the Mill building to host the museum’s educational programs, inductee area, research center, Mill history, special exhibits and artifact displays. The addition to the mill serves as a Welcome Center and includes a visual orientation area, reception, gift store and restrooms. The second floor has a café and a roof terrace that offers views of Seneca Falls and Erie Canal.

The NWHOF has been awarded multiple grants to assist in the Mills' rehabilitation including: National Park Service Save America's Treasures, Rochester Area Community Foundation, New York State Environmental Protection Fund as administered by Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, New York State Canal Corporation, and Restore NY.

The project has taken place in several phases. These included site improvements, restoration of the Power House’s limestone 1st floor and chimney stack and completion of the remaining upper floors of the Old Stone Mill Building.  Various restoration & reconstruction projects have been performed by CJS Architects in conjunction with Structural and MEP consultants including roof and structural stabilization, window replacements. Masonry repair and repointing, elevator replacement, ADA accessibility upgrades, restrooms and emergency egress redesign.