United States Land Port of Entry

Sandy Bay Township, Maine | 61,000 SF

Developed through the General Service Administration’s Design Excellence program, this new port is among the first round of border facilities built under post 9|11 standards. The four-building campus was designed in coordination with US, Canadian and State agencies to ensure the continued operation of existing border facilities throughout 30 months of phased construction.

The campus is a self-sufficient outpost 16 miles from the nearest community in the western Maine mountains, developed over 12 acres at the primary crossing route from Quebec City. Design direction balances the multiple roles land ports must perform – a combination of secure checkpoint and first impression along an international boundary with strong cross-border community ties. The buildings want to hide and be seen simultaneously, informing siding patterns and colors developed from hunting and military camouflage typologies. Signature glass towers and orange elevations signal arrival from either direction for approaching traffic – cars, log trucks, recreational vehicles and snow mobiles – through the area’s infamously variable and hostile weather.

Port operations began in the new main building in April 2009 with final construction scheduled for completion in April 2010. The $26m project has earned USGBC LEED Gold certification featuring innovate site design and two wind turbines generating 20% of the Port’s annual energy need.