Emery School Apartments, Biddeford

The Emery School was built in 1913 in the Georgian Revival style. The original architect was Miller and Mayo who designed many other schools and public buildings in the state. 

Named after beloved local teacher Thomas Emery, the school served a community of mostly French Canadian mill workers.

When the public school closed in 1993, it was used for day care until 2007. Since then, the vacant building grew to be more and more of a burden to the City.  

Developers Collaborative and Avesta Housing teamed up to redevelop the former school in 2011 into elderly housing.

The work to restore the building was extensive, including 100% repointing of the masonry building envelope, and chimneys and interior millwork. Unfortunately, asbestos in the plaster required the expense of its wholesale removal. Within the new senior housing facility, the “feel” of the old school was maintained, especially the large open corridor spaces and historic stage which now serves as shared community space.

With its advantageous location near downtown and a large residential district, this former liability has transformed into a neighborhood anchor and a historic landmark, providing homes for 24 Biddeford area seniors. Maine Preservation is pleased to present a 2013 Honor Award for the adaptive use of the Emery School Apartments.

Kennebunk High School (Park Street School), Kennebunk

Park Street School, designed by the Boston architectural firm of Hutchins and French in the Colonial Revival style, was completed in 1922. It operated as a high school until 1939 and an elementary school until 2006.

The school closed in 2006 and remained vacant. The property became overgrown and hardly visible from the street.

Avesta housing saw an opportunity to provide much needed affordable housing in the neighborhood. Their rehabilitation project focused on the retention of the significant brick building facing Park Street while recent rear additions were replaced with a compatible modern addition.

The most significant interior spaces remain intact and recognizable to former students, while the classrooms have been made into apartments. All corridors were retained and the two-story gymnasium at the core of the building was utilized for community space.

Original wooden windows were retained on the prominent elevations and wooden pilasters were replicated. Trees planted too close to the building were removed and disease-resistant elms replanted along the street, as shown in historic photos.

Avesta and its team were able to create 30 affordable elderly housing units while maintaining significant architectural features of the former school. Maine Preservation is pleased to present a 2013 Honor Award for the adaptive use of Kennebunk High School.