Landry/French Construction has started the first phase of a $7 million renovation to the University of Maine’s Maine Center on Custom House Street in Portland.
The work will transform a third of the 60,000-square-foot building by adding an entrepreneurship and innovation hub, and redesigning classrooms and event and meeting spaces.
The center serves graduate programs, offers executive and professional education and is a collaboration space for leaders across the state and beyond.
It originally opened at 300 Fore St. in 2023, with funding from the Harold Alfond Foundation’s UMS Transforms initiative. That six-story building encompasses more than 60,000-square-feet and features classrooms, faculty and staff offices, a law library, student services and study areas and event and meeting spaces.
The Center expanded into 7 Custom House St. in 2024, doubling its footprint to more than 120,000 square feet. The goal now is to connect the two buildings and integrate programming, over a multi-year renovation.
This first phase will include a new business and law clinic and resource center on the second floor at 7 Custom House St., a joint initiative with the University of Maine Graduate School of Business and the University of Maine School of Law.
The fourth floor will be transformed into an event space, featuring an outdoor deck overlooking the waterfront. Included will be new boardrooms, a trial practice classroom for law students, and collaboration space for academia, industry and community partners.
The renovation is being designed by Portland-based Harriman Architects and Boston-based Goody Clancy.
