University of Southern Maine

Features of the Abromson Center

• The 33,000-square-foot Abromson Center is named for Linda Abromson and her late husband, Joel. Linda is a former Portland city councilor; mayor; faculty member in USM's Center for Continuing Education, and former candidate for Congress. Joel Abromson, who was elected four times to the Maine Senate, fought for affordable health care and to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.



• A 15,000-square-foot classroom/office building features six classrooms, a conference room, and a computer classroom. The classrooms are designed to also serve as meeting spaces. The main lobby is named the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Lobby.



• The 570-square-foot computer classroom, known as the The Banknorth Charitable Foundation Room, features a glass wall facing an atrium, through which people pass on their way to and from the attached parking garage.



• The 520-seat Hannaford Lecture Hall, includes a 130-seat mezzanine level to provide better sound and visual qualities.



• An attached, 1,200-car parking garage makes accessing the many events, classes, and programs held at the Abromson Center convenient and hassle free. Find out more about using the USM parking garage.



• The Alumni Skywalk, a 160-foot enclosed glass pedestrian skywalk. The skywalk connects the Abromson Center and the attached USM parking garage to a landscaped plaza between Luther Bonney and Masterton Halls on the opposite side of Bedford Street. The skywalk is expected to dramatically improve pedestrian safety and increase accessibility to the parking garage and the Abromson Center.



• The Abromson Center incorporates “green” design features and may become the first LEED Gold Certified building in Maine. Green design serves as the foundation for the U.S Green Building Council LEED Certification program. Under the program, the number of green design elements utilized in a space determines the level that space can be LEED certified (basic, silver, gold or platinum). Read more.
  
  
• The cost of the entire complex—approximately $25 million—came from a combination of a 2001 state bond, campus fees, and private and federal funds. Read more about supporting the Abromson Center.