PHOTO courtesy of Maine Virtual Home Tours
The 100 Middle lobby, featuring furniture, colors, and art selected by GTA’s interiors team.
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Updated: August 28, 2023
2023 Fact Book: Doing Business in Maine
Gawron Turgeon Architects: Celebrating 40 Years of Innovative Design
PHOTO courtesy of Gawron Turgeon Architects
The front of the Gawron Turgeon Architects office in a schoolhouse in Scarborough, ME.
Since our doors opened in 1983, Gawron Turgeon Architects, P.C. (GTA) has been designing for what’s ahead. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for creating inspirational spaces, the firm has established itself as a trusted and reliable name in the built environment.
Led by Principals and Owners Stan Gawron, Mary Turgeon and Rebecca Dillon, GTA’s talented team of professionals combine innovation, deep understanding of client needs, and a knack for seeking out solutions to create architectural masterpieces that stand the test of time.
As we began celebrating our 40th anniversary in April 2023, the GTA team was also met with another change – the upcoming retirement of founder, principal and accomplished architect, Stan Gawron. The mantra in our office is “listen, innovate, design.” These words are the backbone of how we approach every project, and that is thanks to Stan and his years of leading by example.
Listen. Innovate. Design.
Gawron Turgeon Architects’ client needs are measured in every facet of a project, whether it is ensuring a company’s branding is considered throughout its interior design, the number of steps taken by nursing staff each day, or the years to come when selecting how to approach landscape architecture.
This innovation is created by collaborating with our designers, partners, consultants and clients. Internal collaboration ensures that each discipline within the staff is working toward a singular project that reflects the needs of every stakeholder – big or small.
GTA is able to keep projects on time, and within budget, by working with state and local agencies, collaborating with engineers and other service providers from the outset, and keeping regional needs in mind. All while introducing our own creative touch wherever possible!
GTA also understands the challenges that crop up from the planning phase to completion. For example, site conditions can impact a project’s budget significantly; to fully understand the site, GTA partners with only the best and maintains high levels of communication throughout all phases of a project.
Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Design Excellence
When tackling the needs of our clients throughout the years, Gawron Turgeon Architects has expanded our toolbox and provided services that can carry a project from A to Z.
Architectural Design: As an award-winning architectural firm with LEED expertise, GTA is passionate about making a positive contribution to the built environment. Our fully integrated team enables us to address every aspect of your project from feasibility studies to permitting and zoning; from master planning to detailed construction drawings, specification documents and construction administration. Whether designing a senior living campus, cutting-edge financial institution, custom health care environment, mixed-use office space, auto dealership or a hotel lobby, our desire to deliver the perfect space is reflected in every project.
Interior Design: GTA offers exceptional interior design services to expertly refine the spaces we create, indoors and outdoors. Applying extensive knowledge of space planning, textiles, color, furniture design, art, lighting, sustainability, health and safety standards, building codes and more, our skilled team anticipates the client’s needs for years to come.
Landscape Architecture: Landscape architecture plays a significant role in the success of any building project, ensuring the best fit between the building, the site and our interactions with both. With these services, GTA collaborates on big-picture site planning down to fine detail design and maintenance plans, always applying sustainable and landscape-led development principles.
Master Planning: Master planning is an integral part of the planning process, taking an idea for a project and allows the team to move forward with clear goals in mind. Ranging in scale from campus developments and municipalities, down to single building plans, GTA creates a plan founded on the clients’ goals and long-term growth strategies, within the context of the existing landscape and surrounding community.
GTA is committed to innovative design and process management through the integration of these four disciplines, and all are achieved through our “all-one-team” philosophy that proves to be crucial for today’s increasingly complex design projects, where efficiency is key to keep design time and costs to a minimum.
“Innovation in assisted living and memory care is essential. We’re proud to work with Gawron Turgeon Architects to design the very best homes for seniors.”
— Northbridge Companies
Notable Projects:
Gawron Turgeon Architects has an impressive portfolio of diverse projects that showcase our expertise and design prowess. Some notable projects include:
Maine Veterans’ Home — Augusta: With an aim to maximize wellness and create an innovative space for long-term transition and memory care, GTA began work with Maine Veterans’ Homes on its new Augusta location. Opened to residents in March 2022, this 138-bed, 179,475 square-foot nursing home has adopted a new concept – the “small-house” – which accomplished those goals in mind for its Veteran residents. A “sense of place” is created with the Community Center in the center of the site, while a loop road connects homes and provides organization, ease of access and security.
These goals were not only followed inside the building, but we also strived to maximize wellness opportunities outdoors. A major design objective was to create strong connectivity between the nursing home and its exterior spaces. Both physical and visual connections to the outdoors and nature provide for a sense of well-being and a healing experience. The landscape design takes the approach of providing meaningful spaces for everyday living. Outdoor spaces provide areas for walking, relaxing, visiting with friends and family, and engaging in purposeful work.
Overall, GTA has been overjoyed at the reception of the space by residents and staff alike and can’t wait for more opportunities to introduce the “small-house” model to senior living projects in the future. The project was also featured in Environments for Aging’s photo tour segment in January 2023.
100 Middle Street, Portland: Retained by the owners to provide design services for the 4,000 square-foot lobby and entrance of this notable building in downtown Portland, GTA was excited to leave its mark.
The goal when approaching this project was to create an eye-catching, inviting and innovative lobby that leaves a lasting impression. This was achieved through lighting changes, new flooring, modified vaulted ceiling, fresh paint palette throughout, artwork updates, changes to the interior shell of the lobby, and more.
This project was a perfect example of entering a project with a clients’ needs in mind. Taking a Portland landmark with an already exceptional entry design, GTA catered its interior design services to introduce elements that only complimented the space.
OceanView at Falmouth, Plummer School Senior Living: Working directly with OceanView, GTA led the design of the conversion of Plummer School and renovation for OceanView at Falmouth. Taking the historic Plummer School site and creating an addition as well as renovating the space provided a unique approach to senior living, middle-income housing and more.
The Plummer School design incorporates a mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and studios; it also includes an inviting lobby, support spaces on each floor, and what was once a gymnasium has been re-purposed into a community room with a warming kitchen. As a historic building, GTA worked with the owner and client to seek historic tax credits – which was achieved by following rigorous design requirements and maintaining the original charm of the school.
This project was part of the Falmouth Schools Redevelopment Project, which garnered a 2014 Top Notable Project Award from MEREDA (Maine Real Estate & Development Association) for hitting upon specific criteria such as environmental sustainability, economic impact and energy efficiency. The project itself also won the 2017 Maine Preservation Honor Award and the 2018 Preservation Honor Award from Greater Portland Landmarks.
Historic preservation and landmark projects are a highlight for the GTA team, and we are looking forward to sharing more about similar projects we have ahead.
PHOTO courtesy of C.A. Smith Photography
The lobby of Maine Veterans’ Home – Augusta, featuring an homage to Maine veterans front and center.
Further Recognition and Awards:
Maine Veterans’ Homes – Augusta and The Plummer School are only two of many projects that the GTA team have contributed to that have won awards for different merits such as preservation, sustainability, architectural design, interior design, community engagement and more.
In 2017, our work for The Mooring’s Falmouth Foreside location garnered awards in IIDA’s Healthcare Interior Design Competition and Senior Housing News’ Architecture and Design Award for Best Standalone Memory Care project.
Most recently, our work in the OTHER Portland (Portland, OR) with Scott Edwards Architecture, LLP was featured in the Environments for Aging photo tour publication, and received recognition at TopProjects 2023.
The entire Gawron Turgeon Architects, P.C. team has left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape over the past 40 years. Our dedication to creating inspirational spaces, our commitment to solutions through design, and our ability to seamlessly blend aesthetics with functionality have set us apart in the industry. As we continue to push the boundaries of design and innovation across countless industries, we remain a trusted partner for clients seeking transformative design solutions that enrich lives and communities in Maine, New England and beyond.
Gawron Turgeon Architects, P.C.
29 Black Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074
Sector: Architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, master planning, construction administration
Principals Stan Gawron, Mary Turgeon, and Rebecca Dillon
Founded: April, 1983
Maine employees: 16
gawronturgeon.com
