Norway Opera House, Norway

The Norway Opera House was constructed immediately after the fire of 1894 that destroyed much of the downtown. It was an important symbol of the town’s resolve after sustaining extensive damage. The Opera Hall on the second floor was used for performances, town meetings and even housed the town administration offices for a period.

After falling into disrepair, the Opera House sat empty on Main Street for many years. Due to roof leaks, broken roof trusses, and partial brick wall failure, Maine Preservation named the building one of Maine’s Most Endangered Properties in 2003. Major collapse under the private owner was imminent.

The town took the bold move of going to court to successfully take the building by eminent domain. After a long battle, the Town stabilized it with funding from a CDBG grant. Additional funding was provided by a Communities for Maine’s Future grant, which was subsequently put on hold, so the town issued its own debt. This was leveraged with State and Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits. To use all the funding effectively, the project had to be broken into phases.

After the initial stabilization phase, the scope of work included structural remediation to wood framing, masonry re-pointing and all new systems. Restoration of windows, doors and interiors created eye-catching retail spaces on the ground level. All the storefronts were quickly rented.

In a few years time, the building’s rent income will supply funds for rehabbing the Opera Hall above. Acknowledging tremendous and courageous community dedication and commitment to saving a beloved downtown symbol, Maine Preservation is pleased to present a 2013 Honor Award for the Commercial-Restoration/ Rehabilitation of the Norway Opera House.

Elm Terrace, Portland

The Children’s Hospital, designed by Maine architect Frederick A. Tompson complimented many of the neighborhood mansions in its Colonial Revival Style.

It was constructed in 1909 in connection to the 1801 Mussey Mansion which was also occupied by the hospital. The Children’s Hospital provided free care to patients who could not afford treatment until 1948.

In 1962, the building was sold to the University of Maine and the Mussey Mansion was demolished. After the University vacated the building in 2010, it remained unoccupied.

The rehabilitation of the property by Community Housing of Maine included the significant challenges of the considerable expense of providing on-site parking and constructing a large new addition within a National Register and local historic district. To accomplish both, the addition’s design was based on the Federal-style Mussey Mansion.

Within the 1909 hospital building, the challenges of meeting life safety & energy efficiency standards were accomplished though careful detailing which minimizes visibility of added insulation and MEP systems. Original windows in the most visible elevations were retained and rehabilitated. The project received Federal and State historic tax credits and the building was certified LEED Platinum.

The result is a project that created a total of 35 housing units and constructing a large addition that is cohesive with neighborhood history. Maine Preservation is pleased to present a 2013 Honor Award for the adaptive use of Elm Terrace.