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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 J U LY 2 6 , 2 0 2 1 R E A L E S TAT E / C O N S T R U C T I O N / E N G I N E E R I N G Back to work at Bangor Savings Bank Meanwhile in Bangor, 480 Bangor Savings Bank employees have been back full-time at the bank's sprawling two-building campus overlooking the Penobscot River, since June 1. All but 40 had been working remotely during the pandemic. e return followed a staggered trial run with half of the workforce for the first two weeks of May, then the other half the following two weeks, according to Wendy Durrah, senior vice president and chief of staff. To ensure safe indoor air, Bangor Savings has embarked on upgrades at its Bangor facility, which takes up around 150,000 square feet. at includes installing state-of-the art filters that go beyond typical commercial setups; increasing the percentage of fresh air as opposed to recirculated air and bringing in more outdoor air; ventilating build- ings around the clock; and equipping elevators with air ionization systems. Bangor Savings spent under $50,000 on all the retrofits, a spokeswoman says. Having ample open space already proved to be fortuitous during the pandemic, and the bank is working with architects on optimal setups for cubicles and workstations. As the bank looks to fill job openings in Bangor and elsewhere, it's doing so with future space limitations in mind and could easily go remote again if needed, according to Durrah. While it was strange at first to be back in the office, people adjusted quickly, she says, noting: "You forget the energy you get from each other. It has been nothing short of joyful to have everybody back together." Similarly in Auburn, Warp+Weft's Malloy says she relishes working from home, kept company by a 90-pound chocolate-brown poodle named Charlie, or from her office that's within easy walking distance. She also looks forward to new "in-person ursdays" every other week, when "we can brain- storm and connect and be creative together as opposed to being creative through a screen." R e n e e C o r d e s , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t r c o r d e s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z a n d @ r s c o r d e s F O C U S Ready to pivot whenever your job does. Hammond Lumber Company has your back. We know that even the best planned projects can run into problems. We're problem-solvers. We've got what you need and we'll bring it to you, wherever you need it in the great state of Maine. Think of us as your partner, a member of your team. No matter what stage your project is in, we're here when you need us. Auburn • Bangor • Bar Harbor • Belfast • Belgrade Blue Hill • Boothbay Harbor • Brunswick • Bucksport Calais • Camden • Cherryfield • Damariscotta Ellsworth • Fairfield • Farmington • Greenville Machias • Portland • Rockland • Skowhegan HammondLumber.com P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Chuck Nadeau, president and CEO of Sewall, at his home office in Yarmouth. The engineering firm recently sold its headquarters building in Old Town and will lease a smaller space in downtown Bangor.

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