Each project has its own litany of challenges, and this one was no different.  Taking place on Main Street in Bar Harbor, the original building had to be torn down and a new one constructed, all while not interfering with the very close existing buildings.  The new building virtually covered the existing lot, so there was very little wiggle room on site.

Schedule was also very important, as they kept the existing store open as long as possible in the fall and needed to have the new store operational by late spring.  There was also a permit requirement that a portion of the original front wall/façade remain intact and be incorporated into the new building.  This was all achieved and looks as though it was there all along.

While the building essentially followed the footprint of the odd-shaped lot, it offers a lot of usable space.  It consists of a full basement for storage and assembly of store products, wide open retail space on the first floor, and four apartment units on the second floor that can handle four people each.  

Architect:  Todd Hardy

What a great transformation this site made from originally being the Town of Brewer’s Public Works location to a new and thriving Brewery and Restaurant.

We worked closely with Chris Morley, the entrepreneur and brew-master, using a design/build approach to turn his dream of owning a brewery and restaurant into a reality.

Due to the previous use of the site, there was a combination of unsuitable and contaminated soils that posed some significant challenges to construction and the budge.  We were able to design a floating slab foundation to minimize the site disruption, reduce costs, and keep the project on track.

The building structure is a pre-engineered metal building from Chief Industries, which provided the necessary clear-span flexibility to create restaurant space in one area and a large brewing operation in another.

Architect:  WBRC Architects

This project was delivered in a hybrid way.  The owner hired multiple entities to perform the work required to complete the training lab and other infrastructure improvements across campus.  The team members had to work closely without having a direct contractual relationship with each other.  Selection of collaborative contractors was important for a successful construction season across the campus.

The project was funded by the State of Maine and the Maine Technology Institute.  Cost projection and best value was discussed at weekly project meetings, along with in depth coordination between the stake holders in the project.

The structure included steel, engineered lumber, and trusses. The exterior received storefront windows and cement board panels/clapboards and PVC trim to withstand the buildings waterfront environment.  The interior includes an elevator surrounded by a stair, kitchen & dining space as well as laboratory casework on the lower level with second floor flex space divided with multiple folding partitions and used for teaching, large presentations, and social gatherings.  One side of the second floor has an exterior open air deck accessible to the flex space and dining area.

Architect:  Design Group Collaborative