Portland Press Herald Building to be transformed into boutique hotel
Two developers plan to transform the former Portland Press Herald building in Portland into a 100-room boutique hotel.
David Lloyd, a founder of Archetype Architects, is the project's architect. The building at 390 Congress St., has been gutted currently, and is empty since 2010.
Post conversion, the exterior would be left largely alone to conform with city historic district rules.The building was constructed in two distinct sections comprising the southern main block from 1923 and a 1948 addition off the north end of the main block (across from City Hall). The Press Herald Building is also significant architecturally, as it embodies the characteristics of early 20th century commercial buildings and is the work of two design firms, Desmond & Lord and Lockwood Green Engineers.
The building's first floor will be turned into a restaurant and the upper floors into a hotel. The hotel would feature art by local artists. The building's history will be highlighted as the headquarters for the state's largest newspaper company.
Construction in expected to begin during the spring of 2013 with the hotel expected to open for business a year later.
