News & Insights

As part of a collaboration with the University of Maine-Orono, Brailsford & Dunlavey identified building adaptive reuse concepts while providing feasible strategic reinvestment alternatives for the university’s historic Holmes and Coburn halls. Now, the result of this assessment is open to the public. Along with a newly constructed add-on facility, Hotel Ursa is an independent hotel located on the site of both previous student housing halls. This project, which marks the first public-private partnership (P3) for a public university in Maine, comprises 95 rooms and suites, with a café and bar for guests and students to enjoy. Online reservations for the hotel’s Polaris Hall became available as the historic buildings officially reopened their doors on March 5, 2024.

To learn more about the project and its historical relevance to the university, click here.