Project
Bessey Commons, Scarborough, ME

Architect

Project Summary

In the Fall of 2008, the conversion of Scarborough’s historic Bessey School into Bessey Commons, a senior housing facility, was completed.  It consists of 54 apartments; 40 of the units in a new wood framed building and 14 units in the fully renovated and restored school building.  The two buildings are connected by a single story common space and single main entrance.

Throughout the 13,000 SF historic restoration, extensive expertise in the preservation process was required to refinish the woodwork and maintain the integrity of the original building. The 27,000 SF addition brings a kitchen and dining room, library and activities room. In the new Community  Activities room, the antique blackboards in the chemistry lab have been refurbished and are still on display. The antique paned windows were repaired and reused and new windows were designed and built to resemble the original look.