Northern Light’s Bangor pharmacy trades up to $2.8M purpose-built design

Rendering / Courtesy, Northern Light Health The new location at 374 State St will provide better workflow and efficiencies for employees and a “revitalized environment” for patients. This rendering is subject to change.

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By Laurie Schreiber

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor plans to start construction on a purpose-built pharmacy with energy efficiencies and a prescription drive-through window — a feature that became popular during the pandemic.

Northern Light Pharmacy is currently located at 210 State St., built into a location that dates back to 1939 as a variety store and became in independent drugstore in 1957, said Matt Marston, Northern Light Health’s vice president and chief pharmacy officer.

“The facility has not gone through a substantial redesign for many years,” he said.

The new location will be down the road at 374 State St., across from the medical center’s parking garage. The site formerly had a floral shop that was unutilized when Northern Light bought the property.

The design is by architect Dan Miller with TAC Architectural Group in Bangor. The general contractor is Dunbar & Brawn in Bangor.

The project cost is $2.8 million, financed with cash and proceeds from the sale of other underultized assets held by Northern Light.

Demolition is underway now. The goal is to break ground this winter and to open sometime next year.

“While our current location has served us well, our new location will allow for more convenient parking, enhancements to the prescription pick-up drive-through, as well as more private spaces for patient consultation,” said Marston.

The one-story building will be 2,990 square feet, with a drive-through and lane queuing in the parking lot.

“The new location will have a much better layout,” Marston said.

Northern Light added a drive-through to its current pharmacy during the pandemic. It’s been a popular option, he said.

“This will allow us to build intentionally,” he said. “It will be more modern and convenient for both patients and employees.”

That will include brighter lighting and what’s expected to be a much more spacious feel in the customer section of the store, along with facilities that are more private for consultations with pharmacists.

“In addition, the modernized design will allow for better workflow and efficiencies for our team of employees and a revitalized environment for our patients,” Marston said. “We will also continue offering our current specialized services such as compounding, prescription home delivery, and our bedside medication delivery programs for patients being discharged from the hospital.”