Headquarters Campus Redevelopment

SME worked closely with Bangor Savings Bank in the redevelopment of their 4.6-acre corporate headquarters campus in Bangor’s Waterfront District. SME provided Phase I environmental site assessment, geotechnical investigation, geothermal well investigation, civil/site design, permitting, utility coordination, and construction oversight for this project which incorporated green infrastructure for long-term sustainability.

Challenges

Bangor Savings Bank and their contractor (The Client) undertook the renovation and expansion of an existing 5-story, 28,268-square-foot historic structure and the construction of a new 5-story, 115,000 square-foot corporate office building. In conjunction with the office building, a new 5-story parking garage with approximately 450 parking spaces was constructed to accommodate parking needs for the owner and the community.

The Client installed a 659-kilowatt solar canopy over the top level of the new parking structure to supplement the electrical needs of the facility and an 80-unit geothermal well field was installed in the landscaped area between the buildings to assist with the heating and cooling of the new office building.

To accommodate the new construction, a portion of existing South Street was closed and utilities were relocated. Extensive coordination was required with the City and utility companies to relocate and/or abandon critical service lines, including water, sewer, electric, and high speed fiberoptic communications lines.

Additional features include the Client’s construction of a new 43-space surface parking area and updated entry plazas with ornamental landscaping and site lighting. Buildings are connected by a meandering walkway through a large landscaped campus area accented with cobblestone textured retaining walls, expansive lawn areas, and a combination of native and ornamental plantings. The stair and walkway constructed at the corner of South Street and Pleasant serves as a public connector to Railroad Street and the waterfront.

Stormwater management was accomplished through new green infrastructure measures including tree box filters, porous pavement and a closed system of catch basins and underground storm drain piping connected to the municipal storm drain system.

Project Outcome and Value Added

Project design and permitting were completed in two phases to accommodate an accelerated project schedule. Each phase of work required a City of Bangor Land Development Permit and Maine Department of Environmental Protection permitting for stormwater runoff. Through extensive coordination with regulators and preparation of accurate and complete application materials, permit approvals were expedited to maintain project milestone dates.

In addition, SME’s design of the project eliminated an existing portion of combined sewer in conformance with the City’s Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) for combined sewer overflow (CSO) reduction.