CambridgeSeven celebrated the topping off of the Alfond Center at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute in Portland, Maine. The $320+ million project, which began construction following a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2024, is expected to be completed in mid-2028. As the lead architect for the campus, located on the former B&M Baked Beans factory site, the design team has been working in close partnership with founders David and Barbara Roux, academic partner Northeastern University, and a skilled team of consultants to bring the bold vision of the dynamic new academic building and the revitalized waterfront site into reality.

The first program of its kind in the Northeast, the Roux Institute at Northeastern University, will be a hub of research, support tech start-ups, and partner with private, public, and non-profit organizations to develop 21st-century workforce talent as well as offer graduate degree and certificate programs.

In addition to the campus Master Plan, CambridgeSeven was commissioned to design the flagship 245,000 sq. ft. academic building specifically for innovative educational programs in areas including artificial intelligence, computer and data sciences, digital engineering, advanced life sciences, and medicine. The striking Alfond Center, dedicated to learning, research, and collaboration, will house computational academic spaces, life science labs and advanced active-learning classrooms organized around a soaring gathering space known as “The Portal.”

“The topping off of the Alfond Center is a significant milestone for The Roux Institute and all who are involved in this innovative project,” said Timothy Mansfield, AIA, CambridgeSeven’s President, CEO, and Principal-in-Charge. “We are looking forward to construction progressing further to bring our bold, forward-looking design to fruition, which honors Portland’s historic, industrial heritage while also fulfilling Dave and Barb Rouxs’ vision of an innovation economy that will expand and thrive not only in Portland but also the entire State of Maine for generations to come.”

The building’s exquisite and contemporary design offers a juxtaposition of a bold architectural expression that embodies the innovative vision of the Institute while at the same time embraces the iconic industrial landscape of Portland, Maine, and its authentic materials: granite, brick, copper, wood, and glass. Specifically inspired by Maine’s unique Bailey Island Bridge, a remarkable engineering accomplishment designed with interlocking Yarmouth granite cribbing, the new Alfond Center reflects key physical and material characteristics of the bridge, with a sweeping, powerful curvilinear form, both horizontally and vertically. The design’s unique form gracefully extends around the peninsula and rises dramatically at the center to reveal The Portal, which bridges the central circulation and gathering space with sweeping views and access to the water’s edge. The lower volume will comprise an artful mix of granite and glass while the upper volume will transition to a more articulated façade of copper metal panels and glass that reflect Portland’s heritage of industrial architecture.

The building’s sustainable and resilient architectural design supports the goal of the project’s Sustainability Charter, which was developed in partnership with the design team, Northeastern University, and the City of Portland. The fully electric building will feature several significant sustainable initiatives:

• Targeting net-zero operations
• Adaptability for climate and energy: Fully-electric ready systems including geothermal heating and cooling, air-source heat pumps, photovoltaic solar panels, 12,000 sq. ft. rooftop garden, and stormwater and greywater management
• Local materials: Use of Maine-quarried granite, wood harvested for mass timber and cross-laminated timber, and indigenous landscaping utilizing local species
• High-performance building envelopes: The climate-adaptive façade design with triple glazing is based on a solar radiation and solar glare benefit analysis which will provide a more energy-efficient curtainwall to minimize waste and emissions onsite
• Labs designed for high-performance capacity with low-energy operation for flexible scalability and optimization
• Shoreline restoration to address resiliency: Built above projected storm surge levels to support long-term sea level rise and climate change
• Full implementation of bird safe glass to align with the City of Portland ordinance

The campus, a 13.4-acre site of the former Burnham & Morrill property, will be open and welcoming to the public with three acres of flood-resilient open green space, bike and running paths, and waterfront access that will attract neighbors and Portland residents. The historic B&M Bakes Bean factory building will also be restored and repurposed as an incubator and accelerator for thriving businesses.

The new Roux Institute at Northeastern will propel Maine into a bright future of innovation with advanced learning opportunities, strong economic investment, and valuable resources for the campus and public.