MEREDA Recognizes its 2025 Notable Project Award Recipients
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects from across the state, completed in 2025, not only embody MEREDA’s belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to Maine’s economic growth by significant investment of resources and job creation statewide.
This year, MEREDA honored projects from throughout the state, with each receiving special recognition at MEREDA’s 2026 “Notable Night” social celebration in April.
In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider published by Mainebiz, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to fuel Maine’s economy in terms of investment and job creation. MEREDA is proud to recognize responsible development based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, difficulty of the development, uniqueness, social impact and job creation.
Mainebiz also featured each of our Notable Project Recipients in their second annual “Groundbreaking Maine” publication. Be sure to check it out!
MEREDA’s 2025 Top 7 recipients include:
The Downs, M&R Development (Scarborough)
Estabrook's Pownal Production Facility, Estabrook Farm & Greenhouse, Inc. (Pownal)
UNE Harold & Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences, SMRT Architects & Engineers (Portland)
Wedgewood, Avesta Housing & Lewiston Housing (Lewiston)
University of Maine Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena Renovations and Additions, University of Maine (Orono)
Boyd Block (178 Middle Street), East Brown Cow (Portland)
Gehring House, Northern Forest Center (Bethel)
Please join us this week in celebrating University of Maine Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena Renovations and Additions.
MEREDA: Describe the building and project.
University of Maine Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena Renovations and Additions: The Hockey Complex at the University of Maine transforms two programmatically and architecturally distinct facilities into a unified home for UMaine’s Division I hockey program. The project upgraded both the athletics performance spaces at Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and the fan experience at the Alfond Arena. Architecturally, the design unifies two buildings from different eras using a folded “origami” structural solution derived from the geometry of the Arena’s iconic roof. The result is a fully integrated performance and community venue that strengthens recruiting, enhances fan engagement, and extends the life of a beloved campus landmark.
MEREDA: What was the impetus for this project?
University of Maine Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena Renovations and Additions: The project is part of a larger, multi-year master planned transformation of UMaine’s Athletics campus, made possible by a historic gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation.
UMaine’s Hockey Program has long been a source of pride and the Alfond Arena is one of the most recognizable and beloved athletic venues in the state, but upgrades were overdue. Project goals included supporting the experience of current and future student-athletes and providing fans with an elevated experience in a more comfortable and equitable venue.
At Alfond Arena, the improved fan experience starts at the new plaza, serving as a versatile space for events and pre-game queuing. Inside, renovations include a new concourse, team store, and hall of fame, along with upgrades to Alfond Arena’s mechanical systems, accessibility, and digital infrastructure.
At the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center, versatile, Maine-branded environments support UMaine’s NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Hockey programs, providing first-class spaces for student-athlete training, recovery, and team life. Upgrades include new spaces for sports medicine and athletic performance, a nutrition bar, team lounges, and impressive, well-equipped locker rooms worthy of UMaine’s storied hockey history. The project also reflects a strategic investment in the long-term competitiveness of UMaine Athletics, recognizing that facilities play a critical role in recruiting, revenue generation, and maintaining relevance in Division I hockey.
MEREDA: How long were you in the planning stages before construction started?
University of Maine Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena Renovations and Additions: The first project planning and design kickoff meeting was in November 2022. We broke ground on the project in March 2024. Ribbon cutting was in September 2025.
MEREDA: Tell us about the most challenging aspect of getting this project completed.
University of Maine Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena Renovations and Additions: The central design challenge was to join two dissimilar buildings into one, creating a unified center for athletic excellence that honored the legacies and strengths of both Alfond Arena and the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center. The power of the final design is that it plays off the geometry and forms already found in the beloved arena, creating continuity between the old and the new in new and unexpected ways.
Compounding this challenge, construction was carefully phased around active hockey seasons, practices, and academic schedules. At no point was the program displaced, requiring precise coordination to deliver major upgrades while maintaining uninterrupted operations and preserving game-day revenue and fan continuity.
As with virtually any public sector project, meeting all the client’s critical success factors on a finite budget is always a challenge, especially in times of steep cost escalations. Fortunately, the University of Maine is a mission-driven client and knows how to bring the best out of the entire team.
MEREDA: Something unexpected you learned along the way was….
University of Maine Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena Renovations and Additions: Designing and constructing a facility focused on a particular sport requires understanding the point of view of athletes, coaches, and facilities managers including the specialized functions, from ice maintenance to digital display operations. What became clear is that elite performance environments are defined as much by operational flow and adjacencies as by finishes or equipment. Small inefficiencies can have outsized impacts on team performance and daily routines.
MEREDA: Now that it’s complete, what feature of the project do you think makes it the most notable?
University of Maine Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena Renovations and Additions: Outside, the “origami” structure is the visual anchor. Inside, the Maine-branded spaces, especially those that include generations of hockey fans and historic championships, really resonate with visitors.
For the players and coaches, the most notable achievement is having an entire facility focused on what they need to succeed. For the University, the addition of premium spaces such as the Dexter Lounge and enhanced fan amenities creates new revenue opportunities while elevating the overall gameday experience.
Ultimately, the project succeeds by doing more than modernizing a facility. It reinforces the cultural and economic role of UMaine hockey as a unifying force across campus and the state of Maine.
For more information on these seven impressive projects, please click here.
