At a July 7 public meeting, the Gorham Planning Board received information about a proposed three-story 34,650 square-foot art department building, which the University of Southern Maine intends to build on the Gorham campus. The general contractor is Great Falls Construction of Gorham, represented by Julie Curran.

The building would be located at the intersection of School Street (Route 114) and Campus Avenue, just down the hill from the Harlan Phillippi residence hall. The building would primarily contain classrooms and office space. In addition, artwork production facilities (such as pottery kilns and a sculpture welding area) would be constructed adjacent to the building.

Information on the proposed building had been previously presented to the planning board at its May 2025 meeting.

Besides the presentation, the July planning board meeting included a public hearing to consider the site plan review. A special exception would also be required for the project, as it is new construction for a non-residential educational use building, which would have more than 2,000 square feet of floor space. The site was formerly the location of a 1960’s-era fraternity building which was removed several years ago, as it was not considered historically or culturally significant.

The location is currently zoned Urban Residential and is within the Pedestrian Overlay Zoning District. The proposed project area includes four separate parcels that the university intends to combine into one.

As of this printing, no date has been set for the planning board to vote on approving the special exception and the rest of the proposed project. The university has not announced a tentative timetable for the start of construction.