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    50 Exchange is one of several 19th-century red brick buildings in Portland's Old Port.

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    The updated Owner's apartment on the 3rd and 4th floors.

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    Stairs lead up to the addition on the 4th floor.

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    A new roof deck allows for views of the Old Port's rooftops out to Casco Bay.

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    Historical brick blends with contemporary aluminum paneling, which gracefully fades into the skyline.

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    Second floor apartment with views down to Exchange Street.

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    Through thoughtful exterior interventions, the building's rich history was preserved.

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    Floor plans, Building Section. Wall Section

City/Town, State Portland, Maine
4
6,033sf
1,938sf

In 50 words or less, give a basic description of your project (program, context, impact). This description will be used in our book publication.
50 Exchange Street epitomizes the quaint allure of 19th-century red brick architecture in Portland's historic Old Port. Entrusted to our firm, it underwent a transformative revival, gaining four dwelling units and a fourth story, while conserving its historic essence through prudent use of tax credits.

In 300 words or less, please describe your project emphasizing elements of design achievement including project intentions, programming requirements, cost data, client impact, and the distinguishing aspects of your resolution.   Relate how the project came to be including the client’s goals and what impact the finished project has made on the client, users, and/or the community.

Nestled within the vibrant heart of Portland's historic Old Port district, 50 Exchange Street stands as a beacon of renewal and timeless elegance. Entrusted to our firm, this historic gem underwent a transformation that reverently embraced its past while embracing the promise of a vibrant future.

With thoughtful precision, the project breathed new life into the building, seamlessly integrating four new modern residential units while preserving the integrity of its surrounding context via deliberately subtle exterior intervention. The addition of a fourth story, carefully nestled within the iconic brick walls, serves as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of tradition and innovation.

Adhering to the esteemed National Park Standards for historic rehabilitation, every detail was meticulously crafted to honor the building's storied past. The fusion of historical brick with contemporary aluminum paneling gracefully fades into the skyline, creating a captivating juxtaposition that celebrates both heritage and progress.

Once inside, you're transported into a realm where history intertwines with modern luxury. From the timeless allure of plaster finishes to the warmth of pine floors, each apartment exudes a sense of charm that transcends time. Ornamental convenience stairs, roof decks, and skylights add a touch of contemporary sophistication, further enriching the living experience.

In June 2023, 50 Exchange Street emerged as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Old Port district. With grace and style, it honors the rich tapestry of its past while embracing the boundless possibilities of the 21st century, inspiring all who encounter its majestic presence.

Select up to 3 measures from the Framework for Design Excellence; (Integration, Community, Ecology, Water, Economy, Energy, Wellness, Resources, Change, and Discovery) to describe how building performance strategies are integrated into the project's overall design goals.

Design for Economy - this project repositioned an underutilized historic building with low-value office space to much-needed multifamily dwelling units in the heart of an existing vibrant downtown. The project utilized historic tax credit incentives and became a successful example of how a first-time developer can directly positively impact their community

Design for Change - When one decides to breathe new life and future generational endurance into an existing 150-year-old building it embodies the best of what we as a society can do to limit further expenditure of energy or contributions to carbon in our atmosphere. By working with the existing structure of the building including keeping the single central historic stair while upgrading the building with new sprinklers, other life safety systems, new insulation, and modern and accessible MEP systems, the building has been positioned to react kindly to a future renovation in the next 150 years.

Design for Well-being: 

 

The AIA 2030 Commitment is an actionable climate strategy that gives us a set of standards and goals for reaching net zero emissions in the built environment.

The latest climate data tells us that reducing carbon emissions is not enough. To make the biggest impact, we must all commit to net zero emissions by 2030—a path that requires strong, immediate action. Since the built environment creates a staggering 40% of the world’s emissions, architects, engineers, and owners play a key role.

More than 1,100 firms have already committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2030. 

Learn more about the AIA 2030 Commitment here →

AIA’s Design Data Exchange (DDX) lets you easily track energy performance

Buildings account for nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions today—but they don’t have to. AIA’s Design Data Exchange lets AEC professionals easily benchmark their projects against industry averages and track performance on their journey to a carbon-neutral future.

Learn more about the DDX here →
Please provide photographer credit for the images you are submitting.
Trent Bell

In 300 words or less, describe the project detail you are submitting.
Caption
Please provide photographer credit for the image you submitted above.
Trent Bell

Architecture that promotes alternative transportation can go a long way toward correcting a century of urban planning scaled for cars rather than people. 

Using this link, find your project's walk score: www.walkscore.com
For example: 100 = Downtown Portland and 0 = Top of Katahdin

 100

Briefly describe design strategies used to limit the negative impacts of vehicular transportation that might not be reflected by the scores above.

Answer yes if the images in the design awards submission demonstrate clear design strategies for supporting wildlife

Answer yes if design strategies prevent most runoff into municipal sewers or natural waterways

Projects are encouraged to develop irrigation strategies based on collected or recycled water.

Projects are encouraged to develop HVAC strategies that conserves potable water.

Answer yes if recycled water is reused on site, such as for toilet flushing or irrigation.

Answer yes if indoor fixture flowrates are at least 20% more efficient than code.

Answer yes if collected water offsets potential potable water use.
Share your SF / Occupant ratio below (i.e. 500 SF / person).
 109 sf/per person (including mercantile space on 1st floor)
Check all that apply.
R-values of insulation above code requirmenst

One of the most effective strategies when designing for wellness is to ensure that all occupied spaces have access to light, air, and nature through an operable window. In general, no desk or workstation should be more than 25 feet from an operable window.

This would most likely take the form of building simulation modeling

Is air being filtered to protect equipment or to protect occupants? (>MERV 13)

Answer yes if the project is designed to achieve a maximum CO2 of less than 1000ppm

Were specific toxic chemical intentionally avoided, resulting in material substitutions?
Wood, when harvested sustainably, contains less embodied carbon than concrete or steel. Using wood as a building’s major structural system, in the form of gluLams (glued laminated timber), cross-laminated timber (CLT), or similar system, will significantly decrease a building's total embodied energy.
A Whole Building Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is like an energy model for a project’s materials. Running an LCA will help to determine which materials have the greatest environmental impact, allowing the design team to make targeted improvements.

Use this link to find the Metric Tons. of Embodied Carbon Dioxide: http://buildcarbonneutral.org/ 
 

 N/A - hard to quantify with existing building - new addition to a 150 year old bldg - carbon imprint is limited due to that.
Use of regional, recycled, and salvaged materials is a great strategy for reducing embodied carbon.
Best practices suggest to design for flexibility so spaces can adapt to other functions as conditions change. Assume that during the lifespan of a building, each space will be used for programs other than what they were designed for. This is the idea of Loose Fit: Interchangeability (the flexibility to easily reprogram a space designed for one function with a different one), which provides economy.
Best practices suggest to anticipate the major risks that the building is likely to face over its lifetime and determine strategies to prepare for them.
Swings in the economy
Design for Discovery is about learning from the finished product. Every completed building contains a textbook’s worth of lessons, mistakes, strokes of genius, and strategies for improvement. Designers need to stay engaged with each building over the long term to extract its secrets and share them with rest of the profession.
Patrick Boothe, AIA, NCARB

Share the names and roles of your architecture team in the following format: Name, Role. (If not applicable, please enter "NA.")
Josh Jacques, NCARB

Please list all architectural firms that should be credited for public display should this project receive recognition.
Woodhull

Please list all other project consultants and sub-consultants in the following format: Firm, Role. (If not applicable, please enter "NA.")
Intelligent Design, Structural Engineering
Ripcord, Mechanical and Plumbing Engineering
Terradyn Consultants, Civil Engineering
If not applicable, please enter "NA." Woodhull
indicates required field

50 Exchange

Category

Professional > AIA Maine Design Awards

Winner Status

  • 01 Honor Award