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Home Portfolio Architecture, College & University, College & University, Interiors, Student Life Buildings Alfond Commons

Alfond Commons

Colby College

Waterville, ME, United States

Located on a prominent corner in downtown Waterville, this 200-bed mixed-use student housing facility is the college’s first off-campus housing project and the flagship component of a multi-pronged investment to revitalize the city’s Main Street. All residents must volunteer with a local organization or do community-based independent study, and the building’s design reflects these literal student connections to the town. The five-story structure consists of four floors of residential space, with retail, amenities, and a town/gown community forum designed to foster student engagement in civic affairs on the ground floor. Granite piers and storefronts recall traditional Maine commercial architecture, while residential floors faced in red brick with masonry ornamentation echo Colby’s main campus. Glazed curtain walls at significant corners create transparency, blurring the lines between college and city.

Project Details

Location
Waterville, ME, United States
Size
105,000 GSF
Status
2018
Cost
$22,000,000
LEED
Certified Silver
Awards
AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Citation for Institutional Architecture
IIDA Southwest PRIDE Award for Interior Design Excellence, Mixed-Use Category
Associated General Contractors of Maine, Build Maine Award

Related Projects

By Keywords:

Interiors, LEED Certified, Mixed-Use, Student Housing

By Client:

Colby College

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Related News

Making a mark

Every campus wants to do its part to improve town and gown relations. Ayers Saint Gross recently helped Colby College in Waterville, Maine achieve that goal through the Alfond Commons project.

A college gives back to the town that once saved it

In 2018, Colby opened the Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons, bringing 200 students to a new dormitory that contributed to the downtown’s revival.

Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons lights up Main Street

The downtown mixed-use residential complex gives more than 200 Colby College students, as well as faculty and staff, a home base in Waterville.

Colby College celebrates completion of steel work on mixed-use student dorm

The historic bank building has been vacant for years but now has collaborative office work space as part of the city’s revitalization efforts.

Colby College mixed-use development

Enjoy the latest drone footage of Colby’s new student apartment complex in downtown Waterville.

Colby College’s new downtown Waterville dorm opening for the semester

Alfond Commons is the first major new construction project opening on Main Street in downtown Waterville in more than half a century,

Colby’s first Waterville downtown development piece is in place

Colby College’s huge investment in Waterville, including the construction of the four-story Alfond Commons, is becoming more and more visible.

Colby names Elizabeth Jabar to lead civic engagement program

Civic engagement programming is a central focus of the Alfond Commons mixed-used project.

Final beam raised for Colby dorm in downtown Waterville

As the final steel beam was raised onto what will be a Colby College dormitory at 150 Main St., more than 100 residents, city officials and college staff members cheered.

Students arriving soon in new Colby dorm in downtown Waterville

Alfond Commons will be home to 200 students, all of whom will be participating in a civic engagement program to foster community relationships and problem solving.

Waterville’s hot single-family home market isn’t cooling down

Colby College’s activity downtown, including the construction of a new residence hall, is a big part of what’s spurring the surge.

Waterville Planning Board to consider final plans for $25M Colby residential complex

Colby officials have said they want to break ground on the project this spring and have the five-story building ready for occupancy in the fall of 2018.

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