Roux - Midgley House
2025 Rehabilitation & Restoration Awardee
Project Dates: November 2018 to February 2024
Building: 515 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Architect: Unknown
Construction Date: 1882
Team Members
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Jeff Taylor
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AJC Architects
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O A Rice Masonry
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June Engineering
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VBFA Engineering
The Midgley House, built in 1882, is a one-story adobe block house with a cross-gabled roof and a small rear addition. While the house is largely vernacular, it features subtle Neoclassical and Greek Revival elements, such as the front porch and thick cornice line. Historically, this block of Salt Lake City was composed of single-family homes built in adobe, brick, and wood. By 1950, the area had transitioned from residential to almost entirely commercial, with the Midgley House standing much farther from the street than many of its modern neighbors.
Joshua Hough Midgley Sr., who painted the original interior of the LDS Temple, originally owned the corner lot. His son, Joshua Hough Midgley, built the house for his family. Joshua was a sign painter and wallpaper hanger, and several of his sons followed in the same profession. Over the years, the house fell into disrepair, particularly the interior, which was covered in multiple layers of wallpaper. The house had been vacant for 30 years when Jeff Taylor purchased it in 2018.
Taylor, who had previously owned historic buildings, was initially uncertain about the property's future but intrigued by the potential to restore it. He pursued the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program, which provided incentives for rehabilitating structures like the Midgley House. The restoration project received a 20% tax credit, confirming it adhered to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. This project combined exterior restoration and interior adaptive reuse.
One of the project's significant challenges was preserving the adobe fabric. Taylor consulted with Atkinson-Noland & Associates to test the building’s historic composition and followed their recommendations for repairing and re-stuccoing the adobe. This work was done before the 2020 earthquake, and Taylor has noted that following proper historic restoration practices helped the building survive the earthquake with minimal damage. In addition to the stucco, Taylor and his assistant, Brad Peterson, also hand-restored the wooden windows and custom-built storm windows. The porch, which had been damaged in a fire, was rebuilt, and the roof was re-shingled with asphalt shingles.
The building’s interior was completely renovated to accommodate modern needs. The floor plan was largely retained, but the finishes and systems were updated. All restoration work followed the Standards, including refinishing the walls and replacing the flooring to replicate the original wood. A rear addition was rebuilt to house restrooms and utility spaces.
Today, the Midgley House is home to Roux, a neighborhood restaurant specializing in French fusion cuisine. Founded by Adam and Kristen Cold, Roux emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and features affordable local art for sale.
Throughout the renovation, Taylor and his team faced numerous challenges, including a deteriorating stucco exterior, water damage, and the seismic risks inherent in adobe construction. Additionally, the project was impacted by the 2020 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these setbacks, Taylor’s team persevered, relying on creativity and problem-solving to overcome obstacles. For example, the structural engineer added sheer walls to reinforce the building, which required modifications to the original window jambs and trim. Taylor also worked with the National Park Service to gain approval for a new addition to match the footprint of the previous one.
The revitalization of the Midgley House stands as a testament to the potential of adaptive reuse and the importance of preserving historic buildings. The building has been given a new life as a vibrant community asset through careful restoration and modern upgrades. Taylor’s dedication to the project and his commitment to using traditional building practices, combined with modern safety measures, has ensured that the Midgley House will continue serving the Salt Lake City community for many years.
