Wright-Ryan Construction

This July, Wright-Ryan celebrated the grand reopening of the York Town Hall! Originally constructed in 1810, our team managed the building's historic renovation and the integration of a new 8,000 square foot addition. Set back from the original building, the addition highlights the Town Hall's historic elements and was built to match its original façade.

Learn more about the project in a recent article from Seacoast Online, and swipe through for a few photos from the ribbon-cutting!

https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2024/07/02/yorks-historic-town-hall-reopens-after-renovation-expansion/74265166007/

✏️ Architect: Port City Architecture

– InterMed | Portland, ME

This project involved the completion of 65,000 square feet of highly customized medical office space, including two operating rooms. Working closely with the owner and the design team, Wright-Ryan developed a plan for phased construction on the four floors, which was accomplished with close collaboration with the base building construction team. As a result, InterMed was able to move in on time and without incurring additional costs.

✏️ Architect: Harriman Architects, Engineers + Planners
📸 Photography: David Lamb

Wright-Ryan recently hosted friends, family, and project partners during our 40th anniversary party! Held at our Operations Center in Westbrook, the event celebrated John Ryan’s 40 years of steadfast leadership and service, and highlighted Alan Sparn’s official transition into his new role as President, while showcasing our company history – from project highlights to company milestones.

Thank you to all who attended!

📸 Photography: Ryan Captures Life

“Tekαkαpimək is more than just a construction project – it reflects our commitment to community and our focus on building spaces for generations. It is a privilege to work on such a project and we look forward to the public experiencing it first-hand in the coming months.” - Alan Sparn, President, Wright-Ryan

Read more about the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station on our website here: https://www.wright-ryan.com/commercial/wright-ryan-joins-tek%ce%b1k%ce%b1pim%c9%99k-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-in-collaboration-with-friends-of-katahdin-woods-waters/

Join Wright-Ryan and take part in shaping Maine’s iconic spaces as you advance in your career. As an employee-owner, you will thrive in a supportive environment that values your success. Check out our open positions and all we have to offer through the link below and come build your future with us!

https://www.wright-ryan.com/careers/

Elliotsville Foundation, with support from a Wabanaki Advisory Board, tasked Wright-Ryan Construction to realize the vision for a visitor contact station in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Helping to make Tekαkαpimək a reality has been a remarkable journey. Wright-Ryan is deeply proud and grateful to have collaborated with all the amazing project partners involved. Every step taken and every detail executed is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team.

✏️ Architect: Saunders Architecture
📸 Photography: James Florio

Learn more about Wright-Ryan’s unique contributions to this project: https://vimeo.com/829182565

Members of the Wright-Ryan team have compared the construction of the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station to ‘building a ship on the side of a mountain.’ We are extremely proud of our team and all the project partners for their dedication and innovation throughout this project.

The structure and finishes within and throughout the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station are predominantly wood and mass timber. If the wall and ceiling beadboard were laid end-to-end, it would span 23 miles! Our team explored a wide range of wood products to find the perfect fit for the Tekαkαpimək project – resulting in the use of locally-sourced cedar, as well as 165 custom-built Douglas Fir glulam columns, and more. A notable feature of the project is the development of the glulam columns, laminated with a custom glue over nine months in a former potato barn in Patten, Maine, ensuring both durability and a natural appearance.

Read about the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station and its sustainable design in the new Mainebiz article below!

https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/constructed-with-mass-timber-visitor-center-for-katahdin-monument-nears-completion

Wright-Ryan was honored to celebrate with all the project partners at Saturday’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, unveiling the new Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Wright-Ryan Construction is proud to serve as the Construction Manager for Tekαkαpimək and other affiliated projects within the Monument.

The monument, the stunning 7,900 square-foot Tekαkαpimək facility, and the surrounding 23-acre site atop Lookout Mountain are all located within the present and traditional homeland of the Penobscot Nation. Katahdin is a culturally significant place to the Wabanaki people where connecting watersheds provide important travel routes for Wabanaki people of Maine, comprised of Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot Nations.

Thank you to Elliotsville Foundation, Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters, the National Park Service, and all the project partners for this meaningful collaboration.

Learn more about this project and its deep cultural impact in the recent Maine Public feature below.

https://www.wright-ryan.com/commercial/tek%ce%b1k%ce%b1pim%c9%99k-contact-station-featured-by-maine-public/

Over the past year, Wright-Ryan completed a project for Portland Stage, a nonprofit theater in downtown Portland known for its diverse programming.

The project included both interior and exterior renovations. The Wright-Ryan team converted the art gallery into a restaurant, built a five-stop elevator shaft, updated the lobby, and added new exterior signage, with the most recent addition being a glass canopy pictured here!

Learn more about Portland Stage here: https://www.portlandstage.org/

– Tower Home | Scarborough, ME

A coastal retreat, the interior of this home is detailed with built-in cabinets and shelving, in addition to one-of-a-kind timber frame elements in the dining area. Tower House features distinctive architecture incorporating a soaring shingle-sided tower.

www.buildingforgenerations.com

✏️ Architect: Shope Reno Wharton
📸 Photography: Sandy Agrafiotis

Earlier this summer, the Maine State Aquarium reopened after a four-year hiatus. Located in Boothbay Harbor, the Maine State Aquarium was built in 1993 and is the only aquarium in Maine and is one of eight aquariums in New England.

Wright-Ryan was proud to help install the skeleton of a minke whale in the Aquarium's main room.

Learn more in an article from the Press Herald below!

https://www.pressherald.com/2024/06/27/reopening-of-maine-state-aquarium-draws-a-crowd/

– Lakefront Camp | Belgrade, ME

This private camp originally consisted of several small buildings. The project started with the renovation and relocation of existing buildings into more applicable places within the property. One of the buildings was renovated into a guest house, while another was kept as a children’s play building with original murals inside. Using the same styling and architecture of the guest house, we constructed a larger main house for the family.

✏️ Architect: D. Michael Collins
📸 Photography: Blind Dog Photo



www.wright-ryan.com

Members of the Wright-Ryan team recently attended Bernstein Shur's 9th Annual Women in Construction & Project Development Event 👷‍♀️

Held annually, this event brings together women across New England within the construction and project development industries to network and connect. This year's theme was "honing your craft" - explored through a range of panel discussions and presentations.

Thank you to Bernstein Shur for another great evening of programming and connection!

📸: Bernstein Shur, Jason Levasseur

Construction is currently underway at the Preble Street Food Security Hub!

Wright-Ryan is proud to play a part in this project, which aims to expand upon the existing Food Security Hub to increase its operations. Upon completion, Preble Street will be able to make up to 10,000 meals per day and will have the processing and freezer capacity to store up to 50,000 frozen, prepared meals.

– Sanford Mill | Sanford, ME

Sanford Mill received Maine Preservation’s Honor Award for Adaptive Use. Wright-Ryan completed extensive renovations and restorations to the historic Goodall Textile Mill in Sanford to create more than 22,000 square feet of commercial office, retail, and restaurant space on the Mill’s lower level. The upper floors feature 36 apartments, including 9 subsidized apartments. The historic rehabilitation of the property reused the significant early twentieth-century architectural features of the building while upgrading the building systems.

✏️ Architect: Archetype Architects
📸 Photography: Rob Karosis

This week marks a significant milestone for Wright-Ryan, as Alan Sparn has officially stepped into his new role as President as of July 1! He becomes only the second person to fill this role following 40 years under the leadership of co-founder John Ryan who will continue to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors.

This significant transition ushers in our next chapter of leadership, innovation, partnership, and team empowerment with a variety of upcoming initiatives and projects. Learn more about where we’re headed and read the full announcement below!

https://www.wright-ryan.com/commercial/alan-sparn-steps-into-role-as-new-president-of-wright-ryan/

– Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument | Patten, ME

The Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument encompasses 7,896 gross square feet on two levels and is designed for 242 occupants. Exploration of a wide range of wood products on the project, and a willingness to push boundaries, led to maximum innovative use of nominal lumber – helping to accelerate an emerging sustainable bio-economy. Tekαkαpimək translates from the Penobscot language to “as far as one can see” and is pronounced de gah-gah bee mook. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is located within the present and traditional homeland of the Penobscot Nation.

Currently under construction, The Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is set to open in the coming months. Learn more below!

https://www.wright-ryan.com/commercial/project/tek%ce%b1k%ce%b1pim%c9%99k-contact-station-under-construction/

✏️ Architect: Saunders Architecture

Earlier this month, the Wright-Ryan team donated washed river stone and a few helping hands to secure and anchor these two Great Egrets!

A twenty-foot bamboo sculpture, “Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People)," is TEMPOart's 2024-2025 public art commission, created by The Myth Makers' Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein. Dancing for Joy is now open to the public, located on Back Cove Trail.

Wright-Ryan is proud to be a supporter of TEMPOart, an organization that believes in the power of public art to enrich our communities and enliven public spaces. Learn more about this project below!

https://tempoartmaine.org/2024/06/wright-ryan-partners-with-tempoart-to-transform-spaces-and-inspire-joy/

– Lightkeeper's Cottage | Cape Elizabeth, ME

These light keeper’s quarters were depicted in a 1927 Edward Hopper painting called “Captain Upton’s House.” With this in mind, Wright-Ryan undertook a careful restoration and reproduction of historic elements inside and out. Wright-Ryan also installed brand new, state-of-the-art building systems to update the cottage. Our Millwork team crafted custom casework and exterior moldings, all in keeping with the 19th-century character of the cottage.

📸 Photography: Bernard Meyers

Wright-Ryan's incoming president, Alan Sparn, was featured in the Portland Press Herald this morning for his op-ed on the importance of employee ownership within the construction industry.

"To us, an ESOP was, and is, an opportunity to think about more than just the sustainability and longevity of Wright-Ryan. It is a chance to secure the future of the construction industry in our region and state, ensuring that it remains a viable option to all talented, next generation builders."

🗞️ Click the link below to read the full op-ed!

Opinion: Employee ownership is a strength of our construction sector People who have the opportunity to share in the capital built through their labor have greater wealth.

– S**o City Hall | S**o, ME

When Wright-Ryan began work on the S**o City Hall, we understood that attention to detail was paramount. This 1855 structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Thanks to the details our Millwork division was able to replicate, we were able to bring a 19th century facility into the 21st century. In the process, Wright-Ryan Construction won the Annual Preservation Award from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.

✏️ Architect: Reed & Barba Architects
📸 Photographer: Bernard Meyers

– Holocaust and Human Rights Center | Augusta, ME

University of Maine, Augusta (UMA) and its primary benefactor wanted a world-class facility on campus to promote education, exhibition, and advocacy to address the abuse of human rights. The architect of the facility won an international design competition with the design of this structure. The construction budget was extremely tight, with fundraising for the project continuing throughout the building process. Wright-Ryan Construction worked with the team to develop cost-effective building details and produced scale mock-ups of parabolic wall sections to test a variety of approaches.

www.wright-ryan.com/buildingforgenerations

✏️ Architect: Shepley Bulfinch
📸 Photography: Anton Grassl

– Inn by the Sea | Cape Elizabeth, ME

The owners of Inn by the Sea, one of coastal Maine’s most popular resorts, had a vision of expanding and creating a four-star resort based on sustainable design principles. New suites, a conference center, a LEED Certified spa, a restaurant, and commercial kitchens were all completed in a single off-season to enable full operation of the inn during the crucial summer months. Wright-Ryan Construction completed the work on the acclaimed resort by Memorial Day. One of our largest millwork jobs to date, our team built the reception desks, grand staircase, concierge station, hostess stand, custom-paneled lounge bar and mantle, suite kitchens, and public corridor, including coffered ceilings, wainscoting, and columns. Inn by the Sea has been a repeat client throughout Wright-Ryan's 40-year history since the mid-1980's.

www.wright-ryan.com/buildingforgenerations

🌊 Property: Inn by the Sea
📸 Photographer: Sandy Agrafiotis

– Tidehead House | Greater Portland, ME

One of Wright-Ryan Home's most significant undertakings to date, the vision for Tidehead House was to bring generations of a family together to connect with nature and create lasting memories in Maine. Designed as a "family campus," this property consists of the main house, three "sibling" cottages, a boathouse, and a dock - all intentionally built to create a cohesive, connected feel while still existing independently from one another. The end result features details inspired by Maine's coastal landscape, along with passive systems for energy efficiency and sustainability.

www.wright-ryan.com/buildingforgenerations

✏️ Architect: Whitten Architects
🖼️ Interior Designer: Heidi Lachapelle Interiors
📸 Photographer: trent bell photography

Celebrating the Wright-Ryan team 🌟 Announced earlier this month during our annual meeting, Wright-Ryan’s Golden Hammer Award and Service Awards recognize the dedication, expertise, and achievements of our team. Congratulations to Nick Barto, Project Manager, on receiving the 2024 Tom Frederick Golden Hammer Award 🔨 and congratulations to all those recognized for their dedication and tenure through Wright-Ryan's Service Awards 🏆

Learn more about the 2024 winners and Wright-Ryan's award programs in our latest news item below!

https://www.wright-ryan.com/commercial/wright-ryan-honors-nick-barto-with-esteemed-tom-frederick-golden-hammer-award/

– Village White | Kittery Point, ME

A 21st-century update brilliantly complements the 17th-century historic Bray House. The older home was carefully restored as the centerpiece of a composition and it handsomely anchors the entire project. The new guest wing addition and main house are contemporary pavilions that span horizontally, making the home appear as a village of small white cottages. Our cabinet shop built the kitchen and the signature bookcases that are ever-so-slightly tapered.

www.wright-ryan.com/buildingforgenerations

✏️ Architect: Jacobsen Architecture
📸 Photographer: Jonathan Reece

– Stone House | Kennebunkport, ME

Stone House is the renovation of a summer cottage that has been family-owned for generations. This coastal property occupies a prominent beachfront cliff and has equally prominent stonework that harkens back to an earlier time. In order to preserve the home’s beauty, Wright-Ryan Homes built a new guest house and connector, re-sided the main house, and installed new windows and roof. Wright-Ryan Millwork completely remodeled the kitchen and bathrooms. Built-in bookcases make the most use of space in the attic guest room, as they tuck neatly in under the knee walls. The kitchen island, farmhouse sink, and cozy window seats help make the new living quarters look original to the coastal property house.

📸 Photographer: Rob Karosis