Shipyard Brewery | Cambria Suites | 86 Newbury Street | Covetrus | 12 Mountfort Street | Portland

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It looks like it's trying to be modern but was then compromised by adding boring brick in the center. Forgettable as exterior architecture goes. And someone please help them finish this. The foundation began long before WEX built and finished its second building.
 
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Is there any sign of the originally-planned big "Vets' First Choice" sign on the south face? I see that little "Covetrus" up there.
 
From the harbor it looks cool. Its seven stories, or 6 with glass with the patio, is inviting. But from the side, a major anti-climatic feel. And the little Covetrus sign with the off-the-shelf graphic designed logo, almost as bad. If the middle had been dynamic, perhaps like the Wishcamper Center at USM (of which I think is a great modern styled building), this could have been something noteworthy. As it is now, a big letdown going through the front door. Sure, architecture should primarily be about the inside, but a Ferrari is not close to being a Ferrari without its exterior "wow" factor. Face it, new emerging high tech companies need to be in a building that is cool, with allusions to the future. The new WEX buildings fit this criteria, and heck, even the Gateway garage office addition does too. SunLife isn't bad, but better than this one. I'd cover that middle and back brick with some cool metal siding, but we know that will never happen. However, if they covered the middle section with a large protruding atrium of similar tinted glass, that would work. Fix it and they will come is my motto.
 
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TC_zoid said:
From the harbor it looks cool. Its seven stories, or 6 with glass with the patio, is inviting. But from the side, a major anti-climatic feel. And the little Covetrus sign with the off-the-shelf graphic designed logo, almost as bad. If the middle had been dynamic, perhaps like the Wishcamper Center at USM (of which I think is a great modern styled building), this could have been something noteworthy. As it is now, a big letdown going through the front door. Sure, architecture should primarily be about the inside, but a Ferrari is not close to being a Ferrari without its exterior "wow" factor. Face it, new emerging high tech companies need to be in a building that is cool, with allusions to the future. The new WEX buildings fit this criteria, and heck, even the Gateway garage office addition does too. SunLife isn't bad, but better than this one. I'd cover that middle and back brick with some cool metal siding, but we know that will never happen. However, if they covered the middle section with a large protruding atrium of similar tinted glass, that would work. Fix it and they will come is my motto.
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Metal siding is so passe and has become a pox in its use. There are some but few examples of it being used in an effective manner. Otherwise it harkens back to warehouses and quonset huts.
 
The Wishcamper Center at USM in Portland. The coolest building in Portland or Maine. The front is best, but the back, still much better than this Covetrus bore. Brick, wood, and LL Bean boots. Typical Maine. Boring.
 
TC_zoid said:
The Wishcamper Center at USM in Portland. The coolest building in Portland or Maine. The front is best, but the back, still much better than this Covetrus bore. Brick, wood, and LL Bean boots. Typical Maine. Boring.
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If you are talking recently built architecture then yes the Wishcamper is up there but it is hardly the coolest building in Portland or Maine.
 
The new Maine Med building under construction on Congress Street might take the title in the future.
 
PlantArch said:
If you are talking recently built architecture then yes the Wishcamper is up there but it is hardly the coolest building in Portland or Maine.
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I should qualify this. For modern buildings I'll give it the vote. It's also LEED Gold and came in 10% under budget. It has interesting angles and materials outside and in. Bowdoin College certainly has some of the best new "cool" buildings. I think the recently completed Roux Center for the Environment, The Artic Studies Center currently under construction, and several of the new dorms combine for the "coolest" collection of buildings in Maine. And yes, the new Maine Med building will be up there. The interior design is as stunning as the exterior. But this structure has not been completed. A digital design is a fantasy yet experienced. The jury is out until it's done.
 
Happy 4 year anniversary to this development! If memory serves, they started clearing the site around the middle of August, 2018. It looks like they have pushed back the opening of the hotel again -- the website is now allowing reservations starting October 12.

The leasing of space to Woodard & Curran should help ensure the office side has some activity. I wonder if they're still planning to build the three townhouses, it doesn't look like they've even started any prep work on those.
 
In June the hotel was taking reservations for August. I think the blame lies primarily with the contractor. I won't say the name, though have met with them for a condo project, a while back. I was not impressed. And I don't agree that blame lies with the unavailability of materials or labor. That's poor planning. Other contractors in Portland don't seem to have this problem. They find a way to get it done.
 
I've always felt that the three separate townhouse structures as currently planned look out of place and awkward looking on that side of the street. If it was one continuous row type project it would be a better fit in my opinion and they could squeeze a few more residences out of it.
 
Took this today. I don't like the white, or at least this white with those windows; it looks way too "back alley" considering how exposed it is.

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I'm OK with the white but yeah....the windows need to be bigger or the white area needs some variation rather than a blank white wall with tiny windows.
 
There are many areas on this project that aren't that great - that don't read to me as 'headquarters of a company with almost 4.5B in revenue'. I realize the building isn't finished, but at this point I am not optimistic about the street level experience on Fore - I hope this isn't the finished looked for access to the loading docks. The cinder block panels that wrap Fore through the building entrance on Mountfort makes the whole thing feel cheap, like they ran out of money. The most optimistic I can be about the building entrance itself is that it is underwhelming - the whole design of the entrance feels awkward. And what's up with those dryer vent lights?
 
markhb said:
Took this today. I don't like the white, or at least this white with those windows; it looks way too "back alley" considering how exposed it is.

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Nice shot! Is that from the top of the Wex building? Would love to get a shot zoomed in with the Observatory right next to the Covetrus building.
 
Corey said:
Nice shot! Is that from the top of the Wex building? Would love to get a shot zoomed in with the Observatory right next to the Covetrus building.
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Thank you very much! I'm flattered and humbled that you like it.
 
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