Structural steel crews have nearly completed erecting/decking, with roofing crews following right behind. As these two trades wrap up, the building will be temporarily enclosed for the winter, allowing interior work to progress towards the first phase delivery of the new locker rooms, coaches’ offices and film room. In total, the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena will undergo 31,000 square feet of renovations and 21,000 square feet of additions, providing significant enhancements to UMaine’s iconic ice hockey venue.

We are excited to deliver these enhanced facilities for UMaine’s student-athletes and fans! Stay tuned for more updates as the project progresses.

Go Black Bears!

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USM

PC Construction accepted two national awards last week from ENR (Engineering News-Record), a leading trade publication in the engineering and construction industry. These awards recognize New England’s most outstanding construction projects of the year.

PC was honored with a Sustainability Award of Merit for its work on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Commons Residence Hall and McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success. The company was also recognized for its efforts on The Nest, a unique mid-mountain restaurant at Saddleback, which won a Best Project award for projects valued under $10 million.

“Our team has completed some exceptional projects in Maine,” said PC President / CEO Matt Cooke. “The University of Southern Maine and The Nest at Saddleback projects illustrate our diverse construction capabilities and are testament to our outstanding teams who continuously achieve excellence.”

USM Portland Commons and McGoldrick Center

The $83.6 million University of Southern Maine project is the largest in the school’s history. Portland Commons Residence Hall, which PC Construction completed in partnership with Capstone Development Partners, Elkus Manfredi Architects, and SMRT Architects & Engineers, significantly expands the dormitory capacity of the Portland campus. The 218,000-square-foot, eight-story student residence hall includes 580 beds with a mix of single-occupancy rooms, studios and multi-bedroom apartments. The 42,000-square-foot, five-story McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success offers a career and employment hub, meeting rooms, study spaces and amenities including a dining common, coffee shop and pub.

The two connected facilities, which are centered on a one-acre green quad, usher in a massive transformation of USM’s Portland campus. Portland Commons, as the campus’ first-ever onsite dormitory, marks the first step in turning a former “commuter campus” into a bustling university with a full campus experience. The state-of-the-art McGoldrick Center right next door contributes to a rich campus life outside of the classroom, providing opportunities for collaboration and connection among the student body and with potential employers.

The project also significantly contributes to USM’s sustainability goal of becoming fully carbon-neutral by 2040. Portland Commons, whose superior insulation and efficient building design allow it to use 50% less energy than comparable housing facilities, is one of the largest Passive House college residence halls in the United States. The McGoldrick Center — with its large-scale 33.3-kW rooftop photovoltaic array, passive solar heating, and a structure that is one-third mass timber, which significantly reduces the embodied carbon of the building — is LEED Gold certified.

“At the very root of this project’s success was a true team commitment to a collaborative, open and transparent relationship among all team members,” said Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, President of the University of Southern Maine. “USM valued PC’s expertise, creative solutions, and continuous efforts toward ensuring our goals were met. We take such pride in walking along Bedford Street and admiring our truly transformed campus, and we know we couldn’t have done it without PC.”

The Nest at Saddleback Mountain

The Nest is a 2,500-square-foot ski in/ski out restaurant at Saddleback Mountain in western Maine. Perched at 3,620 feet, it’s the highest-elevation dining experience in Maine, combining panoramic views and exceptional cuisine. Constructing this unique venue presented significant challenges, from its remote, high-altitude location to the need for careful environmental stewardship.

The top of the building features a living roof, recreating the natural alpine meadow above the building, as if the ground had been lifted up for the building to be tucked into. Inside, guests discover a vibrant, modern restaurant with a full gourmet kitchen, 80-seat dining area and 14-seat bar that are designed to easily transform into an open-concept event space.

Environmental stewardship was a top priority during the construction process. Careful planning accounted for the late-spring breeding season of the Bicknell’s Thrush, a rare bird species native to the region, ensuring their habitat was protected. To prioritize the birds’ safety, removable screens were installed on one of the three sides featuring floor-to-ceiling glass. Instead of using a traditional poured concrete foundation, the structure was built on posts, significantly reducing disruption to the surrounding watershed. Additionally, the project incorporates unique building materials that showcase local forest products and harmonize with the natural landscape, further emphasizing sustainability and regional pride.

“PC’s partnership was essential in bringing this project to completion in time for the 2023-2024 ski season,” said Jim Quimby, General Manager of Saddleback Mountain. “The Nest isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a centerpiece of the Saddleback experience, offering skiers and riders a combination of breathtaking views, exceptional dining, and the convenience of ski-in/ski-out access. This project stands as a testament to innovative design, eco-conscious practices, and the spirit of collaboration that define Saddleback as a truly special destination.”

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Originally built in 1977, there have been several additions and renovations to the Alfond Arena and the connection to the Shawn Walsh building. To support this varied infrastructure, we are working through the MEP coordination process and identifying constructability opportunities based on existing conditions.

The enhanced Shawn Walsh Hockey Center will include new state-of-the-art locker rooms for the women’s and men’s ice hockey programs, a player development center with state-of-the-art sports medicine and strength and conditioning spaces as well as a 42-seat film room, new and renovated offices for coaches and support staff, and expanded lounges and equipment rooms. The Harold Alfond Sports Arena will undergo upgrades to enhance the student-athlete and fan experience inside the historic building. Work includes a new entryway complete with an expanded concourse area with dedicated ticket and concession sales spaces, the UMaine Hockey Hall of Fame and the team store.

In total, the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena will undergo 31,000 square feet of renovations and 21,000 square feet of additions. This multi-phased project will further UMaine’s commitment to excellence in the state’s only Division I athletics program, strengthen gender equity, and provide a preferred destination for high school sports championships, competitions and community events.

Many of our team members are UMaine alum and are looking forward to helping UMaine further their commitment to excellence in Division I athletics. Go Blue!

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Current work includes 11,000 square feet of renovations and fit-ups to multiple spaces within the Forbush building of the existing 300,000-square-foot Patrick-Forbush-Gutterson Athletic Complex. A former racquetball court, which was demolished during our earlier phase of work, will be fit-up to create a hydrotherapy center with three pools for athlete treatment. Additional existing shell space will be transformed into the University’s new academic success space. With seven offices, a conference room, a kitchenette and study areas, the space will support student-athletes with their academic needs. Additional areas will receive renovations to create a new multipurpose room and an office suite for the UVM Catamounts men and women hockey coaches. Associated infrastructure improvements include a new energy recovery unit and rooftop ductwork distribution.

This $5.2 million project, which comes on the heels of the successfully completed Athletic Campus Renovations and Additions project, will wrap up this November. Stay tuned for more updates about this exciting project!

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The two connected facilities, which are centered on a one-acre green quad, include the 218,000-square-foot, eight-story Portland Commons student residence hall and the 42,000-square-foot, five-story McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success. Portland commons – the first-ever residence hall on the Portland campus – features 580 beds with a mix of single-occupancy rooms, studios and multi-bedroom apartments. The McGoldrick Center offers a career and employment hub, meeting rooms, study spaces and amenities including a dining common, coffee shop and pub.

One of the most exciting parts of this project is its extensive sustainability focus. Portland Commons, with its superior insulation and efficient building design, is the second-largest Passive House building at a university in the United States. The McGoldrick Center, with its large-scale 33.3-kW rooftop photovoltaic array and passive solar heating, along with a beautiful mass timber component comprising of 40% of the building, is pending LEED Gold certification.

Not only is this project a huge milestone for The University of Southern Maine, it’s also a project that is near and dear to the project team. Many of us have lived and worked around the Portland area our entire lives, so witnessing this historic transformation right in the center of campus is truly spectacular. We couldn’t be happier for future students and staff to excel in their new state-of-the art space, while also remembering the extensive efforts from not only PC Construction, but the design team and trade partners. Congratulations to the entire team and all entities involved over the last four years to make this project a success!

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Today, PC Construction accepted a top national award from the Associated General Contractors of America for its work on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Commons Residence Hall and McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success. The project earned a Construction Risk Partners Build America Award in the $76-$125 million new building category.

The project, with a total value of $83.6 million, is the largest in the school’s history. The 218,000-square-foot, eight-story Portland Commons student residence hall includes 580 beds with a mix of single-occupancy rooms, studios and multi-bedroom apartments. The 42,000-square-foot, five-story McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success offers a career and employment hub, meeting rooms, study spaces and amenities including a dining common, coffee shop and pub.

The two connected facilities, which are centered on a one-acre green quad, usher in a massive transformation of USM’s Portland campus. Portland Commons, the first-ever residence hall on the Portland campus, offers affordable living options to students in the region, enhancing the university experience. The state-of-the-art McGoldrick Center right next door contributes to a rich campus life outside of the classroom, providing opportunities for collaboration and connection.

The project also significantly contributes to USM’s sustainability goal of becoming fully carbon-neutral by 2040. Portland Commons, with its superior insulation and efficient building design, is the second-largest Passive House building at a university in the United States. The McGoldrick Center, with its large-scale 33.3-kW rooftop photovoltaic array and passive solar heating, is pending LEED Gold certification.

“As the largest construction project in USM’s history, we knew we needed the right team to bring our vision to reality,” said Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, President, University of Southern Maine. “We selected PC Construction for their reputation in the higher education industry of professionalism, solution-minded approaches, and high-quality construction. Over the course of the project, I have seen that this reputation is well-deserved.”

PC Construction served as the design-builder working with the design team of Elkus Manfredi Architects and SMRT Architects and Engineers, in partnership with the P3 developer, Capstone Development Partners.

“We’re proud of our work on this project and honored to contribute to a vibrant and sustainable experience for future generations of USM students,” said PC President / CEO Matt Cooke. “I’d like to thank AGC America for this recognition, and the many partners and craftspeople for their strong collaboration. We had the absolute pleasure of working with so many incredible people, who all shared the vision of delivering an exceptional, high quality, safe project. Mission accomplished!”

Top: The three-story, 41,000-square-foot McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success building and quad form a new physical and metaphorical center of the campus, connecting existing facilities with amenities that serve the University population. Bottom: The 218,000-square-foot Portland Commons is the University’s first on-campus residence hall on the Portland campus with 580 beds in 385 units.

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Portland, ME – Today, PC Construction accepted a top national award from the Associated General Contractors of America for its work on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Commons Residence Hall and McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success. The project earned a Construction Risk Partners Build America Award in the $76-$125 million new building category.

The project, with a total value of $83.6 million, is the largest in the school’s history. The 218,000-square-foot, eight-story Portland Commons student residence hall includes 580 beds with a mix of single-occupancy rooms, studios and multi-bedroom apartments. The 42,000-square-foot, five-story McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success offers a career and employment hub, meeting rooms, study spaces and amenities including a dining common, coffee shop and pub.

The two connected facilities, which are centered on a one-acre green quad, usher in a massive transformation of USM’s Portland campus. Portland Commons, the first-ever residence hall on the Portland campus, offers affordable living options to students in the region, enhancing the university experience. The state-of-the-art McGoldrick Center right next door contributes to a rich campus life outside of the classroom, providing opportunities for collaboration and connection.

The project also significantly contributes to USM’s sustainability goal of becoming fully carbon-neutral by 2040. Portland Commons, with its superior insulation and efficient building design, is the second-largest Passive House building at a university in the United States. The McGoldrick Center, with its large-scale 33.3-kW rooftop photovoltaic array and passive solar heating, is pending LEED Gold certification.

“As the largest construction project in USM’s history, we knew we needed the right team to bring our vision to reality,” said Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, President, University of Southern Maine. “We selected PC Construction for their reputation in the higher education industry of professionalism, solution-minded approaches, and high-quality construction. Over the course of the project, I have seen that this reputation is well-deserved.”

PC Construction served as the design-builder working with the design team of Elkus Manfredi Architects and SMRT Architects and Engineers, in partnership with the P3 developer, Capstone Development Partners.

“We’re proud of our work on this project and honored to contribute to a vibrant and sustainable experience for future generations of USM students,” said PC President / CEO Matt Cooke. “I’d like to thank AGC America for this recognition, and the many partners and craftspeople for their strong collaboration. We had the absolute pleasure of working with so many incredible people, who all shared the vision of delivering an exceptional, high quality, safe project. Mission accomplished!”

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On Wednesday, PC joined The University of Maine to celebrate the start of construction for major renovations to Harold Alfond Sports Arena and the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center. This project will further UMaine’s commitment to excellence in the state’s only Division I athletics program, strengthen gender equity and provide a preferred destination for high school sports championships, competitions and community events.

The enhanced Shawn Walsh Center will include new state-of-the-art locker rooms for the women’s and men’s ice hockey programs, a player development center with state-of-the-art sports medicine and strength and conditioning spaces as well as a 42-seat film room, new and renovated offices for coaches and support staff, and expanded lounges and equipment rooms.

The Harold Alfond Sports Arena will undergo upgrades to enhance the student-athlete and fan experience inside the historic building. Work includes a new entryway complete with an expanded concourse area housing dedicated ticket and concession sales spaces, the UMaine Hockey Hall of Fame and the team store.

The PC Construction team is excited to work with The University of Maine, WBRC and Crawford Architects, and all our trade partners to bring these exceptional enhancements to life for UMaine student-athletes, staff and fans.

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Last Thursday, a standing room only crowd gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine’s new Firestone Medical Research Building. There was a lot of pride in the air as attendees spoke of the incredible opportunity this new building will bring to the Vermont community, and the great odds the project overcame to get to today.

Construction began on this 60,000-square-foot, four-story laboratory building right in the midst of the COVID pandemic. While the University talked about stalling the project, they also knew that time was of the essence. With funding in place, they hit the go button and the PC team immediately engaged, starting construction in September 2020. Now, two years later, the University is ready to continue their groundbreaking research in a space designed and constructed to support their collaborative efforts.

The new Firestone Medical Research Building is connected to the existing Health Science Research Facility constructed by PC in 2001. It features flexible, cutting-edge modular facilities to improve efficiency and help interdisciplinary teams of researchers collaborate more effectively. Construction included research lab space, with associated lab support, write-up and office spaces, and core spaces for circulation, conference rooms and kitchenettes. Approximately 250 faculty, post-doctoral fellow, staff and students will be served by the new facility.

Read more about the Firestone Medical Research Building.

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There was excitement in the air as USM students and leadership, USM President Glenn Cummings and L.L.Bean Chairman Shawn Gorman joined with members of the PC Construction team to celebrate the construction progress and recognize L.L.Bean’s $850,000 donation to the University.

The Portland Campus Development Project includes the addition of a three-story, 42,000-square-foot Career & Student Success Center, the 580-bed Portland Commons Residence Hall and a one-acre Residential Quad that will become a natural campus gateway for the USM community.

The Portland Commons Residence Hall, which is on track to be one of the five largest Passive House residence halls in the country, includes eight- and five-story wings with a mix of en-suite single-occupancy rooms, studio apartments and multiple-bedroom apartments.

The Career & Student Success Center features diagonal mass timber framing, a corrugated metal facade, an interior stone fireplace and natural stained wood. Constructed to LEED standards, the facility features a 270-seat dining space with café, a 140-seat multi-purpose event room, student lounges, office space, a career counseling center, a bookstore, a radio station, and a large, roof-top solar photovoltaic array.

Stay tuned for updates as we progress toward 2023 completion! 

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USM President Glen Cummings, Chief Business Officer Alec Porteous and Director of Sustainability Aaron Witham spoke about the importance of this parking garage in the University’s vision to expand the Portland campus in the most sustainable way. A focus for this project is making the new garage ecofriendly to reduce USM’s carbon footprint. Sustainability efforts include 58 vehicle charging stations and 250 secure bike parking areas.

The garage, which is designed by Desman Design Management, will serve as the primary entrance to both the new and adjacent existing campus parking facilities.

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Temporary protection is erected, and demolition of the existing ice rink slab is underway. Stay tuned as work continues on this exciting project for UNH athletes, students and fans!

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