Portland Museum of Art Acquires $14M Downtown Building for Expansion

In late March 2024, the Portland Museum of Art (PMA) in Maine acquired a downtown structure along with two nearby parking lots for $14 million. Previously owned by MaineHealth, the largest private employer in the state, the Free Street site will serve as administrative offices, allowing for more gallery space within the main museum. This purchase aligns with a long-term goal to enhance accessibility within Portland's Arts District. Additionally, PMA is working on a new wing, valued at $100 million, designed by LEVER Architecture, which will significantly expand the museum's space, adding galleries, a performance area, a photography center, and a rooftop terrace. To facilitate this expansion, the museum demolished the former Children's Museum at 142 Free Street, acquired in 2019. Marcie Parker Griswold, PMA's communications director, hailed the property acquisition as a significant step for institutional growth. The design for the new wing emerged from an international competition won by LEVER Architecture.