University of Maine School of Law Building explained

University of Maine School of Law Building
Location:246 Deering Avenue
Location Town:Portland, ME
Completion Date:1972
Architect:Wadsworth, Boston, Dimick, Mercer and Weatherill
Owner:University of Maine School of Law
Floor Count:8
Architectural Style:Brutalist

The University of Maine School of Law Building is a former academic building in Portland, Maine. Adjacent to the University of Southern Maine's Portland campus, the 8 story building was designed by the local architectural firm of Wadsworth, Boston, Dimick, Mercer and Weatherill and completed in 1972 at a cost of $2.7 million. It expanded in 1993 to include more space on the first floor to accommodate the law library.[1] It is a rare example of Brutalist architecture in Maine.[2] It was built to house the University of Maine School of Law, which had previously been located downtown at 68 High Street.[2]

In 2017, Architectural Digest named the building one of the 8 ugliest in the United States and called it "a futuristic version of the Roman Colosseum."[3] University employees described the building's architecture and design as "a joke but also a badge" and "rather unfortunate."[2]

In 2023, the Maine School of Law was relocated downtown to a former office building at 300 Fore Street. After 50 years, building no longer houses a law school. The University of Maine anticipates that the vacant law school will eventually be demolished, but there are no final plans to take the building down yet.[4]

References

43.6611°N -70.2789°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Campus Descriptions - Portland . usm.maine.edu.
  2. News: Russell . Eric . Architectural Digest throws the book at UMaine law school’s ‘rather unfortunate’ building . Press Herald . 30 September 2017.
  3. News: Huber . Hannah . The 8 Ugliest University Buildings in America . Architectural Digest . September 14, 2017 . en-us.
  4. Web site: Writer . Dennis HoeyStaff . 2023-01-17 . UMaine School of Law moves into Old Port office building . 2023-04-04 . Press Herald.