Lewiston, home to a large Somali population, has been emerging from economic depression and slowly growing. Expansion into a neighboring downtown building was an opportunity to create the Marsden Hartley Cultural Center, dedicated to inclusive cultural programming and preservation of the library’s extensive archives. The project has become home to the city’s diverse cultural scene, stimulating new programming opportunities with its flexible and inviting spaces for author talks, dances, lectures, film screenings, and performances in the heart of downtown Lewiston.

The expansion was carefully programmed to engage downtown Lewiston in ways that were not possible in the original Carnegie library. The street-level Couture Room provides gallery space for local artists, browsing collections and meeting space for book discussion groups. A cascading staircase engages the active street front and bypasses the archives floor to connect the public directly to a ballroom-sized event space at the top floor.

Recognition:
2006 Statewide Historic Preservation Honor Award, Maine Preservation