USM’s Portland Campus, Saddleback Mountain Restaurant Receive Highest Honors
PC Construction accepted two national awards last week from ENR (Engineering News-Record), a leading trade publication in the engineering and construction industry. These awards recognize New England’s most outstanding construction projects of the year.
PC was honored with a Sustainability Award of Merit for its work on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Commons Residence Hall and McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success. The company was also recognized for its efforts on The Nest, a unique mid-mountain restaurant at Saddleback, which won a Best Project award for projects valued under $10 million.
“Our team has completed some exceptional projects in Maine,” said PC President / CEO Matt Cooke. “The University of Southern Maine and The Nest at Saddleback projects illustrate our diverse construction capabilities and are testament to our outstanding teams who continuously achieve excellence.”
USM Portland Commons and McGoldrick Center
The $83.6 million University of Southern Maine project is the largest in the school’s history. Portland Commons Residence Hall, which PC Construction completed in partnership with Capstone Development Partners, Elkus Manfredi Architects, and SMRT Architects & Engineers, significantly expands the dormitory capacity of the Portland campus. The 218,000-square-foot, eight-story student residence hall includes 580 beds with a mix of single-occupancy rooms, studios and multi-bedroom apartments. The 42,000-square-foot, five-story McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success offers a career and employment hub, meeting rooms, study spaces and amenities including a dining common, coffee shop and pub.
The two connected facilities, which are centered on a one-acre green quad, usher in a massive transformation of USM’s Portland campus. Portland Commons, as the campus’ first-ever onsite dormitory, marks the first step in turning a former “commuter campus” into a bustling university with a full campus experience. The state-of-the-art McGoldrick Center right next door contributes to a rich campus life outside of the classroom, providing opportunities for collaboration and connection among the student body and with potential employers.
The project also significantly contributes to USM’s sustainability goal of becoming fully carbon-neutral by 2040. Portland Commons, whose superior insulation and efficient building design allow it to use 50% less energy than comparable housing facilities, is one of the largest Passive House college residence halls in the United States. The McGoldrick Center — with its large-scale 33.3-kW rooftop photovoltaic array, passive solar heating, and a structure that is one-third mass timber, which significantly reduces the embodied carbon of the building — is LEED Gold certified.
“At the very root of this project’s success was a true team commitment to a collaborative, open and transparent relationship among all team members,” said Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, President of the University of Southern Maine. “USM valued PC’s expertise, creative solutions, and continuous efforts toward ensuring our goals were met. We take such pride in walking along Bedford Street and admiring our truly transformed campus, and we know we couldn’t have done it without PC.”
The Nest at Saddleback Mountain
The Nest is a 2,500-square-foot ski in/ski out restaurant at Saddleback Mountain in western Maine. Perched at 3,620 feet, it’s the highest-elevation dining experience in Maine, combining panoramic views and exceptional cuisine. Constructing this unique venue presented significant challenges, from its remote, high-altitude location to the need for careful environmental stewardship.
The top of the building features a living roof, recreating the natural alpine meadow above the building, as if the ground had been lifted up for the building to be tucked into. Inside, guests discover a vibrant, modern restaurant with a full gourmet kitchen, 80-seat dining area and 14-seat bar that are designed to easily transform into an open-concept event space.
Environmental stewardship was a top priority during the construction process. Careful planning accounted for the late-spring breeding season of the Bicknell’s Thrush, a rare bird species native to the region, ensuring their habitat was protected. To prioritize the birds’ safety, removable screens were installed on one of the three sides featuring floor-to-ceiling glass. Instead of using a traditional poured concrete foundation, the structure was built on posts, significantly reducing disruption to the surrounding watershed. Additionally, the project incorporates unique building materials that showcase local forest products and harmonize with the natural landscape, further emphasizing sustainability and regional pride.
“PC’s partnership was essential in bringing this project to completion in time for the 2023-2024 ski season,” said Jim Quimby, General Manager of Saddleback Mountain. “The Nest isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a centerpiece of the Saddleback experience, offering skiers and riders a combination of breathtaking views, exceptional dining, and the convenience of ski-in/ski-out access. This project stands as a testament to innovative design, eco-conscious practices, and the spirit of collaboration that define Saddleback as a truly special destination.”