Woodard & Curran’s new headquarters in Portland are proving ground for ‘democratized’ design

COURTESY / WOODARD & CURRAN Woodard & Curran recently completed its move from outer Congress Street into 56,015 square feet on the fifth and sixth floors at 12 Mountfort St., in Portland’s East End.

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By Laurie Schreiber

The perks at the new Portland headquarters of engineering firm Woodard & Curran include an electric vehicle charging station, a penthouse patio and “democratized space” that the company said could be a proving ground for accommodating different work styles.

The firm recently completed its move from its 60,144-square-foot outer Congress Street location into 56,015 square feet on the fifth and sixth floors at 12 Mountfort St., on Portland’s East End.

The cost and financing were undisclosed.

“With input from our employees, we’ve designed the space to facilitate communication, collaboration, and innovation,” said Alyson Watson, the company’s CEO. “Open, airy, and surrounded by windows, this new home base represents our future, with long views of Casco Bay and the city of Portland.

COURTESY / WOODARD & CURRAN

Alyson Watson

“As we continue to implement our key strategy focused on high-performing distributed teams, this office space provides the entire range of spaces our people need to deliver their best work, whether they are in the office full-time or visiting for meetings or to collaborate with their colleagues.”

The space is subleased from Covetrus Inc., a supplier of veterinary technology, supplies and services. The overall building size is 170,000 square feet.

Based on the number of Maine-based licensed engineers, Woodard & Curran is the state's second-largest engineering firm, behind Topsham-based Wright-Pierce, according to the Mainebiz list of Maine's largest engineering firms, which was published July 24 and will be included in the 2024 Mainebiz Book of Lists.

At the time the list was compiled, Woodard & Curran had 57 Maine-based engineers and a total of 197 Maine employees. It reported 2022 revenue of $303.1 million, up from $262.9 million in 2021.

Relocation plan

The company announced the relocation in July 2022, as construction of the building was nearing completion.

Founded by Frank Woodard and Al Curran in 1979, Woodard & Curran has over 1,200 employees in 27 locations across the country. The firm specializes in science, engineering, design-build and operations, as well as water-and-environmental projects.

Woodard & Currran had seen significant growth. In 2022, Watson introduced a five-year strategic plan for continued growth, including recruitment of next-gen talent and enhancing technology and data science capabilities.

The new headquarters was and is expected to accommodate continued growth, with room to host training, staff gatherings and client events.

Courtesy / Taylor Roberge, Woodard & Curran

The interior was designed to provide flexibility to accommodate different work styles.

Features include common meeting rooms, a café, a patio on the top floor, bike storage and easy access to downtown Portland and public transportation. A national learning center is designed to serve employees from locations across the company.

Designed to provide flexibility, the space can accommodate a range of work styles, according to a news release. Calling the concept “democratized space,” the firm said there are no private offices. Instead, focus rooms, small collaboration spaces and other shared areas are available for employees to reserve and use as needed.

“As we designed this office, we made sure to keep the needs of our employees front-and-center,” said Christine Wade, Woodard & Curran’s corporate facilities and real estate manager. “We wanted to make sure that we had spaces that worked for everyone, whether they are in the office full-time, part-time or visiting for a meeting or event.

conference rooms with tables, chairs and screens

Courtesy / Taylor Roberge, Woodard & Curran

The build-out incorporates advanced technology to manage sound and automatic shades to reduce glare and actively manage lighting.

"This office is also a proving ground for some of the design concepts and will help set a new standard for all our office spaces across the country.”

The space incorporates sustainability features such a green roof and air filtration and indoor air quality monitors.

The build-out also incorporates acoustic technology to manage sound and automatic shades to reduce glare and actively manage lighting throughout the space.

The firm said it was able to reduce square-footage in the office, despite a growing workforce locally and nationally, due to a flexible work policy that increases options for remote work, along with efficient use of space.

To design the space to meet a range of needs of a modern workforce, Woodard & Curran contracted with Workplace Transformation Facilitation, a Portland consultancy, led by Lisa Whited.

The build-out was completed by Pittsfield-based Cianbro, Maine's largest construction company.