On Sunday Jan. 11, a group of administrators, faculty and community members took part in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new USM art building. The construction site is near the intersection of Campus Drive and Fort Hill Road. Pictured here left to right are: Janna Ahrndt, assistant professor of art; Dr. Kelly Hrenko, associate dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, professor of art education, Art Department, University of Southern Maine; Dr. Jane Kuenz, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, University of Southern Maine; Hannah Barnes, Art Department chair, associate professor of art; Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, president, University of Southern Maine; Dannel Patrick Malloy, chancellor, University of Maine System; Trish Riley, Board of Trustees, University of Maine System; Annie Lee Zimerle, coordinator, Kate Cheney Chappell ’83 Center for Book Arts, associate professor of art. (Photo Credit: Benjamin JosephIn November, the trustees of the University of Maine System approved a plan to begin construction of the new art department building on the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham campus, which is the first new building to be constructed on the campus since 2006. The ceremonial groundbreaking took place on Jan. 11. Great Falls Construction is in charge of the $15,000,000 project and expects the building to be completed by the summer of 2027.
Besides classrooms and faculty offices, the new building will feature studios for sculpture, ceramics, drawing, design, photography and woodworking, as well as a digital lab and some outdoor production spaces.
Many of the art department’s programs are currently housed in the lower level of Robie-Andrews Hall and several other buildings. The university has stated that the trustees’ decision was based on a realization that the art department’s current facilities no longer meet the needs of students or its programs.
The current design allows for the building itself to act as a canvas, with large-scale installations visible through the glass facades, as well as exterior surfaces that can accommodate art installations and murals.
WBRC Inc. designed the 36,000-square-foot building, which will utilize a pre-engineered metal system in order to maximize program space, while staying within the budget. Approximately 24,000 square feet of the building’s area will be completed during the initial phase. The remaining 12,000 square feet of expansion space will be completed at a future date.
In a recent university press release, Kelly Hrenko, professor of art education and associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, stated, “Beyond supporting our academic mission, this facility will strengthen the cultural life of our campus and neighboring communities. It will create a dynamic hub where students, visiting artists and community members can connect through exhibitions, workshops and shared creative experiences.”
In addition, USM president Jacqueline Edmondson recently stated that “the arts are central to who we are at USM,” adding that “the arts provide a strong foundation, helping develop additional skills like empathy and creativity, which are valued by many employers.”
Visit the USM Art Department online at https://usm.maine.edu/art.