The Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences consolidates the University of New England’s health sciences programs, osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, nursing and allied health into a 112,000-square-foot facility on UNE’s Portland campus. The project relocates the College of Osteopathic Medicine from Biddeford to Portland, uniting Maine’s only medical school with complementary healthcare programs to create the state’s first integrated hub for interprofessional education.
UNE’s vision required more than programmatic consolidation. The building needed to support team-based learning across disciplines while preserving distinct program identities, accreditation requirements, and operational workflows. SMRT addressed this through a clear organizational strategy: two interconnected wings linked by a central commons. One wing uses steel framing to serve donor labs, simulation environments, and standardized patient suites; spaces requiring large clear spans, durable finishes, and tightly controlled building systems. The other wing features exposed mass timber construction with glulam beams and CLT decking, creating warm, daylit commons, flexible classrooms and collaboration spaces designed to support student wellness and reduce isolation in a high intensity academic environment.
This hybrid structural approach advances sustainability while delivering measurable performance. Lifecycle assessment validated that the mass timber system significantly reduces structural embodied carbon compared to conventional steel framing. High-efficiency building systems, including specialized energy recovery in donor labs, achieve substantial energy use reduction despite energy intensive laboratory programming. The building is designed for a century of service, with durable materials and adaptable infrastructure supporting long-term institutional performance as curricula and healthcare delivery models evolve.
The project responds directly to Maine’s healthcare workforce challenges. By expanding the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s capacity and prioritizing interprofessional education, the facility prepares graduates to serve rural and underserved communities across the state. Digital health and telehealth teaching environments reflect Maine’s geography, equipping students to deliver care across distance and limited-access areas. As Maine’s only independent medical school physically located in the state, UNE plays a critical role in workforce development, and this facility directly strengthens that pipeline.
Site planning reinforces UNE’s Portland campus identity while respecting historic Westbrook College context. Building form, scale, and massing strengthen pedestrian connections and create a cohesive campus edge. Transparent ground-floor commons and welcoming entries project an open, civic presence, supporting strong town-gown relationships with adjacent residential neighborhoods.
Completed in October 2025 at a total project cost of $93 million, the Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences demonstrates how integrated planning and performance-based design can deliver institutional value, environmental stewardship, and community impact. The building positions UNE to meet Maine’s healthcare needs for generations while establishing a model for complex, mission-driven facilities that balance program intensity with occupant wellness and long-term adaptability.
