Maine Public wrapping up renovations on new Portland home

Radio and television broadcaster Maine Public is wrapping up renovations to the former Public Market space in downtown Portland, for its planned move from its smaller leased home a few blocks away. Portland-based Simons Architects, is designing the space. Wright-Ryan Construction, also headquartered in Portland, is handling renovations. The nonprofit purchased the 53,655-square-foot office and retail building at 320 Cumberland Avenue in August 2024, from East End Corp. for $16 million net acquisition cost (after taking over leases for some of the space), and expects to spend $15 million more on renovations and equipment, according to Maine Public President and CEO Rick Schneider. The project is being funded entirely from donations to the nonprofit's recent capital campaign. Plans call for studio and production facilities as well as space to host community events. “We have community engagement space which includes two multipurpose rooms and a commons that can seat up to about 225 for events,” Schneider told Mainebiz earlier this week. Two years ago after the purchase, Schneider told Mainebiz that the reason for the move is to replace the cramped, obsolete facility at Marginal Way. “They’re not studios, they’re an office space with microphones,” he said in an interview at that time.  The Cumberland Avenue building was originally constructed in 1997 by the Libra Foundation as a center for food vendors and community gatherings. The Public Market closed in 2006, and new owners installed a second floor and leased the space to corporate tenants. There are currently two tenants in the building; Za Pizza is in the former restaurant space occupied by Slab, and Global Payments, which acquired Evo, has some space “for now,” Schneider said. A solid move-in date is still in flux. “Some moving is underway but the final date for being out of Marginal Way is fluid and a week-to-week thing,” he said. “We still have some punch-list items and electrical work to finalize, and we are installing equipment in the studios.” The number of staff assigned to the building to start is expected to be between 80 and 100. “As a statewide organization, some of our folks move around and have flex space for occasional use,” Schneider added.