Strategic Goal 4: Create Living and Learning Centers
Charge
Maine College of Art & Design will develop a concept for living & learning facilities that reflects the College's mission and values to provide students with the necessary resources to become artists for life.
Building on Maine College of Art & Design’s historic role as a creative anchor of Portland, we preserve space for education on Portland’s peninsula during a time of robust development. We will determine priorities for expanding the College’s footprint to deliver on our academic mission and best meet the needs of our students, faculty, staff, and community.
Establish The Concept for New Living and Learning Facilities
Our community’s residential and studio needs will be guiding priorities for the development of new Living and Learning Centers.
Design concepts for Living and Learning Centers will reflect Maine College of Art & Design’s values, industrial aesthetic, and brand. Reflecting the values of the next generation of students coming to Maine College of Art & Design and our long-term, cost-effective intentions, the development of new facilities will incorporate environmentally sustainable, climate-conscious design. There will be as much flexibility as possible in the building design to accommodate gatherings of any size and to invite community-building.
The development of new facilities will enhance Maine College of Art & Design’s identity and visibility within downtown Portland and cement its presence as the creative heartbeat of the city. The Centers will be located in proximity to Maine College of Art & Design’s current buildings, expanding the footprint of the College’s urban campus.
Envision Graduate, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff Housing and Making Spaces
The development of new facilities will satisfy a critical need to increase Maine College of Art & Design’s undergraduate housing capacity. In addition, housing and studio spaces for graduate students, alumni, faculty, and staff will be explored.
Plan For Programming and Space Needs in Existing Buildings
The addition of new centers would create opportunities to reallocate existing space in the College’s main building for program areas experiencing growth. Priorities for newly available existing space will be defined as a part of the curricula planning process to accommodate new academic programming and program expansion needs.
Plan for Center and Master Campus Plan
Following the development of any new Centers, the next steps in Maine College of Art & Design’s planning will be the assessment of the current campus user experience and the development of a master campus plan that addresses future use and reflects the College’s brand identity and culture throughout our physical spaces in Portland, Maine.
Outcomes
- An expanded, permanent footprint in downtown Portland’s Arts District during a time of robust development throughout the City
- A campus concept that meets future student and College community residential needs, represents Maine College of Art & Design’s design and brand sensibilities, and incorporates best practices in environmental sustainability and design
- To build community and develop optimal spaces to support artists and designers for life
- An enhanced ability to meet the needs of both current and future arts and design trends with flexible meeting spaces
- Further position Maine College of Art & Design as Portland’s arts center and community gathering place