Photo / Courtesy Maine Community Bank
Jeanne Hulit, president and CEO of Maine Community Bank.
Updated: October 7, 2020
Bank breaks ground on $8M Westbrook operations center
Rendering / Courtesy Archetype Architects
Maine Community Bank, formed in January from a merger between Biddeford Savings and Mechanics Savings banks earlier this year, is building an operations center at 100 Larrabee Road in Westbrook.
Maine Community Bank, formed in January from a merger between Biddeford Savings and Mechanics Savings banks though they had already been under the same mutual ownership umbrella, is laying a new anchor in Westbrook.
The merged entity is owned by Maine Community Bancorp, which was formed in 2016 and had assets of $941.9 million as of Dec. 31, 2019, according to its annual report.
It's breaking ground today on a 23,000-square-foot operations center at 100 Larrabee Road in Westbrook that will be able to accommodate 50 employees. The project cost is $8 million and will be built by local contractors, Maine Community Bank President and CEO Jeanne Hulit told Mainebiz through a spokesperson.
The company expects to complete construction in about a year from now on the three-story structure, which will serve as both a full-service branch and bank operations center.
While building a new operations hub in Westbrook, the bank said it will maintain a presence in its Biddeford Savings
and Mechanics Savings divisions facilities.
Biddeford Savings currently serves Biddeford, Kennebunk, Scarborough and Waterboro, while Mechanics Savings serves Auburn, Brunswick, Lewiston and Windham.
Maine Community Bank's future Westbrook hub was designed by Archetype Architects.
The general contractor is Wright-Ryan Construction Inc. and design is by Archetype Architects. Wright-Ryan's commercial portfolio includes buildings for Clark Insurance in Portland (which was also designed by Archetype Architects), TruChoice Federal Credit Union in Portland and Cumberland County Federal Credit Union in Falmouth and Portland.
Subcontractors include Pine State Services, a client of the bank.
"This expansion into Westbrook is intentional. It is a bridge between the communities of Biddeford and Lewiston-Auburn where many of our employees work and live,” Hulit said in a news release. “Employees from both regions will have a similar, very easy commute. Bringing our operation team together under one roof allows us to retain as much of our workforce as possible and build a strong team culture.”
The project involves the redevelopment of a parking lot and an old metal building into an energy-efficient facility with advanced air filtration systems and spaces designed for socially distanced business operations.
The bank noted that the architecture and materials refer back to the the adjacent quarry, where Waterstone Properties is developing Rock Row on 100 acres, and to the mill history of Westbrook, Biddeford and Lewiston-Auburn. Rock Row
“We are very excited to welcome Maine Community Bank into Westbrook,” Westbrook Mayor Michael Foley said ahead of today's groundbreaking ceremony. “This project and expansion represent a confidence and commitment that has been in short supply since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. From construction to opening day, the center will bring jobs to the area and inject an energetic spirit plus a boost to local businesses.”
Sam Marcisso, owner of Pine State Services, said his company was proud to be part of the project, adding, "Maine Community Bank was there for us from the beginning of the pandemic, which made a huge difference during these uncertain times. We are very grateful for this partnership.”
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