Preservation and Development of Iconic UMaine Orono Campus

Preservation and Development of Iconic UMaine Orono Campus

The University of Maine Orono has begun the redevelopment project of the campus’s iconic buildings, Coburn and Holmes, into a 95-room boutique hotel and a bistro cafe. The two buildings at the heart of the University were originally built in the late 1800s for student housing, but have not been operational for the last 15 years. Since the halls were designated as a historic district by the National Register of Historic Places, the renovation had to be done with precision. PBCE was tasked with the important job of preserving some of the Romanesque architectural styles of the time as well as carefully cataloging the buildings’ materials as part of the client’s Protect in Place request, which allowed for eligibility regarding the historical tax credits.

PBCE’s team of experienced and skilled craftsmen that specialize in disabling salvage successfully preserved select portions of the buildings during the de-construction process. Funding for the project was made by Harrison Street and Radnor Property Group, however, a U.S. Historic Preservation Grant helped make the project possible. Archetype Architects and Wright Ryan Construction are also partners in the landmark project. Dean Raftopoulos and Clint Gendreau CO-CEOs of PBC Environmental said that they are excited to partake in bringing new life into an old part of campus. The project is expected to be completed in 12-18 months.