Inside, it has been "recycled" - reinvented as a modern loft condominium complex, with 40-foot ceilings creating a feeling of LOTS of space in the floor-to-ceiling living room areas.

Once inside, two things are apparent:

One, the developers of Ice House Lofts went out of their way to integrate the original flavor of the brick-and-concrete structure into the design, leaving heavy, riveted steel trusses, rough-poured concrete interior walls and thick wooden beams exposed to blend - and contrast - with new wall surfaces, modern cabinetry, lighting fixtures, wood flooring and carpet.

Two, the condominiums are amazingly quiet inside. A passing Union Pacific diesel locomotive hauling a string of freight and "stacker" cars over the railbed a dozen yards distant from the back of the building is barely audible.

Randi Dorman, husband Rob Paulus and their year-old child occupy one of the larger units, having moved in early in June. They are thoroughly familiar with the building, being partners - along with developers Warren Michaels and Phil Lipman - in the project since its beginnings in 2002.

Rob Paulus was architect for the venture, meeting the challenge to retain the original buildings, which had a "footprint" of 37,000 square feet, convert that into more than 70,000 square feet of living space and incorporate as much as possible of the old with the new.

The result is 51 units, single- and multiple-bedroom, part of a condominium operation with units priced between about $100,000 and nearly $500,000. The project was completed early in June, with all but two of the apartments already sold.

Paulus' design won a Western mountain region merit award from the American Institute of Architects.

Some of the heavy equipment, compressors and related hardware from the decades-long ice plant operation have been retained for architectural theme devices and public art.

NEXT PAGE» 1, 2