Awards
- 2023 Build Maine Award, Building Category
A distinctive hub for visual and performing arts, film, and arts education.
The Paul J. Schupf Art Center is a new beacon for the arts in downtown Waterville, Maine. The $18 million project, a transformation of a historic site at the intersection of Castonguay Square and Main Street, is part of an initiative led by Colby College and Waterville Creates to revitalize the city’s downtown. Weaving together old and new, the project brings together local arts organizations including the Waterville Opera House, Ticonic Gallery and Studios, Maine Film Center and Colby College Museum of Art under one roof, celebrating the arts within. In addition to new galleries, three screening rooms, rehearsal space, a pottery studio, classroom and cafe, Schupf Arts connects to the 800-seat historic Waterville Opera House situated at the upper level of the adjacent City Hall. Building on the foundations of the original Stern’s Department Store and following Passive House principles, the design creates a sustainable new arts center at the heart of downtown Waterville.
The project drew on Altieri’s significant expertise designing environmentally responsible systems for multi-faceted projects requiring unique building systems within one envelope.
