Crossland Hall Removal

Updated on December 16, 2025

Crossland Hall is proposed for removal as part of UMaine’s long-term north campus infrastructure improvement strategy and our commitment to providing students, faculty, staff, and community partners with spaces that elevate academic and research excellence. The 11,200-square-foot building in which UMaine’s Franco-American Centre has been housed faces $10 million in deferred maintenance and unfunded modernization needs. Due to the extensive cost of renovations and modernization, along with the overall condition of the building, the university has deemed Crossland unsuitable for renovation. Rather than invest significant resources into this aged and inaccessible facility, UMaine will provide the Centre with a more modern, renovated space by relocating it. This new space will reinforce the University of Maine’s longstanding commitment to supporting Franco-American programs and honor the ongoing contributions of Franco-Americans to the state of Maine.  

The Centre will temporarily relocate to the first floor of Libby Hall this winter break to ensure continuity of programming. In 2027, they will move into dedicated, renovated space in what is currently the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (ESL) building, a centrally located facility. The renovation investment will be about $500,000. Preceding this move, the ESL’s current occupants, the Spruce Budworm Lab, will move to a renovated space in Deering Hall’s fourth floor.

Project Benefits:

Smarter long-term investment: Avoids $10 million in deferred maintenance and unfunded modernization needs, allowing investment into facilities that better support teaching, research, and programming.

Enhanced program space: A renovated, central location for Franco-American Centre, supporting teaching, archives, events, and partnerships. Renovation investments are about $50,000 for the temporary Libby Hall move and $500,000 for the permanent relocation to the ESL building.

Maintaining capacity where needed: Restoring approximately 200 parking spaces affected by recent and future construction activity near academic, research, and athletic facilities.

To honor the legacy of Crossland Hall, the University is working to identify items for preservation from the building for utilization in the renovated ESL space. A historical review determined the demolition does not affect protected historic properties. 

This project aligns with UMaine’s broader goals to modernize facilities, address underutilized space, and improve parking and accessibility for faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

Detailed information regarding the transition and timeline is available below.

Contact:
Gabriel Paquette, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
gabriel.paquette@maine.edu

Modern, accessible space supporting future growth

The renovated ESL building will provide a modern, energy-efficient, and fully accessible space.

The Centre will have sole occupancy, giving it greater visibility and autonomy on campus.

Its flexible layout will support teaching, archival preservation, cultural programming, and community partnerships.

The space will be designed with room to expand programming, events, and partnerships over time, supporting UMaine’s mission to advance cultural heritage and community engagement.

Stability trhough transition

The temporary relocation to Libby Hall will ensure uninterrupted operations during the renovation.

Franco-American Centre leadership will be actively involved in design decisions to ensure the new space reflects program values; design begins in 2025.

A clear timeline (see below) and communication with faculty, staff and students guides the transition.

Honoring Crossland Hall legacy while preparing for the future

The university will document and celebrate Crossland Hall’s role in the Franco-American story, with potential opportunities to preserve items like the building’s fireplace for use in the renovated ESL space.

The relocation represents a forward-looking investment that preserves history while supporting growth and renewal.

University leaders are considering naming options to preserve recognition of Charles Crossland, an alum who held a variety of campus leadership roles for 44 years, including 18 as the President of the UMaine Alumni Association.

Conceptual options being considered for the future design of the renovated ESL building.

A conceptual rendering of a building exterior
A conceptual rendering of a building interior
A conceptual rendering of a building interior
A conceptual rendering of a building interior

Building Information

Constructed in 1833

Acquired for the University in 1866

11,181 square feet

Usage over time:

Used for home of faculty members, then Beta Theta Pi, women’s dormitory, School of Home Economics, men’s dormitory, infirmary, and multiple offices including the Franco-American Centre who moved into the 1st floor in the 1990’s.

Additional departments located in Crossland include Hirundo Wildlife Refuge and most recently as swing space for Athletics staff.

2024 Gordian building study findings:

Goridan is a contracted third-party firm who provides the University of Maine System with annual facility condition updates.

The 2024 Gordian building annual study found that the building’s net asset value is 0%, indicating it has reached the end of its useful life. The estimated replacement value is approximately $3.7 million, with a total construction need of about $4.5 million for a like-for-like replacement. When accounting for all associated project costs, the total estimated like-for-like project cost is approximately $6.4 million, while a modernization project (i.e. to bring the building up to modern standards) is estimated to be roughly $10 million. Additional building concerns include the discovery of mold, a block and dirt foundation, limited ADA accessibility, and other concerns which further contribute to the building’s deteriorated condition and replacement need.

Crossland Hall timeline and considerations (2008-2025):

2008-2009: UMaine Master Plan proposes relocation of Crossland to support north campus development. It also noted that Crossland had not been added to the National Register due to extensive interior and exterior alteration. 

2018: Crossland Alumni Center identified as part of the 2018 plan approved by the Board of Trustees aimed to demolish up to 300,000 square feet of vacant, underutilized or poor condition space.

2020: Listed as a candidate for major renovation or removal in the FY19 Gordian Report to UMS Finance/Facilities/Technology Committee.

2023: Included in the UMS 5-Year Capital Plan (FY24–28) for demolition.

2024-2025: Options reviewed for north campus parking solutions.

2025: Maine Historic Preservation Commission determined demolition would not affect protected historic properties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Subject to change as design and construction timelines are not finalized.

November 2025: Permit for Crossland removal secured from the Town of Orono, though no major construction activity will occur until after Trustees’ final approval.

Dec. 17, 2025: North campus improvement project, inclusive of Crossland removal, presented to the University of Maine System Board of Trustees’ Finance, Facilities and Technology Committee. 

January 2026: UMS Board of Trustees expected to take final action on the north campus improvement project.

Spring 2026: Design work to begin on both the Deering Hall fourth floor for the Spruce Budworm Lab and the ESL building for the future Franco-American Centre. 

Fall 2026: Renovations to Deering’s fourth floor will begin for Spruce Budworm Lab. This must wait until the Soils Lab renovations on the ground floor are completed and they are relocated to the ground floor. 

Spring 2027: Spruce Budworm Lab is relocated to Deering’s fourth floor.

Spring 2027: Renovations to ESL begin.

Fall 2027 – Spring 2028: Franco-American Centre relocates to permanent, improved space in what is currently the ESL.

Spring 2025: With approval from leadership, Academic Affairs and Space & Capital Management Services engaged with the College of Liberal Arts and the Franco-American Centre about relocating the Centre and closing Crossland Hall.

June 2025: Project leaders finalized the plan to relocate the Franco-American Centre temporarily from Crossland to Libby Hall until renovations are completed in the building currently known as the Environmental Science Lab (formerly the Chicken House). Its current occupant, the Spruce Budworm Lab, will be relocated to Deering Hall’s fourth floor prior to the transition.

June – present: Space & Capital Management Services continues regular meetings with Franco-American Centre leadership on relocating to Libby Hall. 3D scans of Crossland are planned for this fall to better assess the interior and exterior of the building. Meaningful building features like the fireplace and others are being identified for potential reuse in the ESL renovation.

Late summer – fall 2025: Space & Capital Management Services hired EHNS Partners to review the historic nature of Crossland Hall. EHNS submitted a report and demolition plans to the Maine Historical Preservation Commission which found that demolition of Crossland Hall will not affect historic properties as defined in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. 

Fall 2027 – spring 2028: Franco-American Centre relocates to ESL.

While the Franco-American Centre will be relocated during the 2025-26 winter break and some minor site preparation work may be undertaken, no construction activity will occur until after the Trustees’ final approval.

The Spruce Budworm Lab will remain in its current location in the ESL and will continue operating without interruption until renovations are completed for them in Deering Hall (targeted for completion spring 2027). Ensuring continuity of this critical forest health research has been central to planning.

The Spruce Budworm Lab will relocate to the renovated space in Deering Hall’s fourth floor prior to renovations taking place in the ESL for the Franco-American Centre.

The Deering Hall renovation identifies ~2,200 square feet—an increase of approximately 10% to meet current and future needs. This work was identified prior to determining that ESL would become the future home of the Franco-American Centre.

The planning process for this project was accelerated in May 2025, prompted by the expansion of the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Alfond Arena and the upcoming construction of Morse Arena—developments that will displace approximately 200 heavily used parking spaces.

Parking Lot Updates

Expansion of the Wells Lot after Crossland Hall removal

Redesign of the Dunn and Corbett lots to improve traffic flow

These improvements address one of the most pressing concerns on the north side of campus, where parking is in especially high demand.

The improved layout will:

Make the north side of campus easier to navigate

Enhance pedestrian safety

Ensure parking remains available near key academic, research, and athletic facilities

Please see the Parking Lots & Roadway Projects section of this website for additional details and renderings.

Environmental Sciences Laboratory (ESL)
Deferred maintenance need (like-for-like): $376,744
Replacement value: $2,377,070
Modernization estimate: $889,961
Net Asset Value: 84%

Libby Hall
Deferred maintenance need (like-for-like): $11,372,756
Replacement value: $10,341,689
Modernization estimate: $22,031,119

Spruce Budworm Lab (SBL)
Recent investments total $102,742.47*
* included $25,000 in grant-funded equipment upgrades.
Planned relocation and renovation budget totals $1.2 million*
*Supported by a $600,000 CDS federal grant and a $600,000 university match.