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V O L . X X I X N O. X V I J U LY 2 4 , 2 0 2 3 26 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 F O C U S above ceilings, in walls and under floors. Nearly 70 workers, supervisors, engi- neers and project managers worked to surgically dismantle, expose, preserve and protect them. In the lobby, Cooperrider points out vintage columns — concrete and faced with a wood veneer decorated with diamond patterns at the top — discovered when the walls were opened up. New veneer will be installed and the columns will remain exposed. e terrazzo floor and terracotta walls will also be preserved. Dark space One challenge was the building's two subterranean levels, comprising 40,000 square feet of "dark space" unsuitable for residential use. Instead, NewHeight Redfern will create a self-storage business and numerous amenities, including a large co-working suite with its own door to the outside, a yoga room, library, bil- liards and game room, large package room and bicycle storage. A "woonerf " — a Dutch term for shared street space — will serve as a plaza and pedestrian way with seating, greenery, trees and patio pavers. e goal is to fill the adjacent commercial spaces with friendly neighborhood spots. "We're trying to create placemak- ing through lively businesses," says Culley. "We're hoping for an all-day restaurant, café, bakery — that kind of thing. We've got a French chocolatier moving into the middle suite." Energy-efficient From the building's top floor, the view from the "sky lounge" and roof deck includes the ocean and even Mount Washington on a clear day, says Cooperrider. A large kitchen and family-style dining room will be avail- able for tenants. Overall construction includes new windows, new insulation and all-elec- tric variable refrigerant flow technol- ogy with heat pumps throughout. "We'll go from a not very energy- efficient building to extremely energy- efficient," says Culley. Based on his experience with Redfern's other development projects, Culley says he expects a wide range of renters. "We get young professionals," he says. "We also get older people who want to live in an elevator building, people who have sold their homes — I call them renters by choice. We get a wide range of people in a wide range of professions and a wide range of ages." In-migration e project lends itself to the trend of people relocating from larger urban cen- ters to Portland, he continues. "Particularly since COVID started, there's been a ton of in-migration," Culley says. "Most of the tenants in our other buildings are new to Maine. ey're coming from New York, Boston, California." Culley notices several primary drivers of in-migration, including the ability to work from home. "People don't necessarily have to live where their jobs are anymore," he says. "at will continue. And there's climate migration. People are leaving California because the smoke is unbearable, or leav- ing someplace because the heat is too much. We're seeing a lot of that and I think that trend will continue." He adds, "e market is extremely tight, so we've got to keep building." Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz www.headlightav.com Inquiries: (207) 775-1671 » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Construction includes new windows, new insulation and all-electric variable refrigerant flow technology with heat pumps throughout.

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