Crewe Center

 And directly behind yesterday's photo, the Crewe Center for the Arts, an impactful building on the University of Southern Maine campus in Portland.

Campus

A semi-aerial view of the University of Southern Maine Portland campus, including the new McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success and Portland Commons residence hall.

Campus Construction

A glimpse of the new buildings on the growing Portland campus of the University of Southern Maine. 

Bedford Street Colors

Some nice looking foliage today along Bedford Street, at the University of Southern Maine's Portland campus. 

Over the Cove

From Jack Path (part of the Portland Trails network) looking out across Back Cove and towards the University of Southern Maine's Portland campus. 

University of So. Maine

A section of the Portland Campus of the University of Southern Maine on a fittingly grey day. I haven't followed the news too closely, but my alma mater has been in the news lately concerning some budget issues that have led to academic cutbacks. You can get informed about the issue by reading the student newspaper, The Free Press, or by following hashtag #USMFuture on Twitter of Facebook. 

Western Glow

The sun, dramatically setting behind USM's Glickman Library, as viewed across Back Cove.

Five Frames

A mural on the University of Southern Maine's central heating plant (Portland campus). 

Wishcamper Art

Some artsiness on the facade of the Wishcamper Center at the University of Southern Maine.

Skylined

Here are a few recent skyline shots from the USM parking garage looking towards the peninsula. I had the idea of going back up here after I mentioned in my post about the top 5 places to photograph the Portland skyline that I hadn't taken any night shots from here in a few years. Feel free to click on the photos for a larger view.

Skyline over I-295

Skyline and baseball game at Deering Oaks

Something To Do: Southworth Planetarium

This post is filed under the label "Something To Do." Every now and then I may post about something which can be done in Portland. Today's thing to do is to visit the Southworth Planetarium, on the USM campus. Although it doesn't look like much from the outside, it is a reputable place inside and as far as I know it is the only planetarium in Portland. It has been with us since 1969 and attracts over 18,000 visitors a year. With a variety of programming for children and adults, it's an affordable place to go. Check out their website for more info.

Osher Map Library Opens

The University of Southern Maine's newly expanded Osher Map Library, at the end of the brick path in this photo, opened to the public this past weekend. Just out of view it the Glickman Library to the right of the building. I look forward to getting down there and brushing up on my cartography hobby.

Osher Map Library, USM

The Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine appears to be complete from the outside. The inside is empty as of today but it looks like a great space. It is set to open this September, possibly to coincide with the start of the school year. The building is designed by Koetter Kim & Associates of Boston. From the library's website:

During the next few months the collections will be returned from offsite storage and installed in the new two story vault. New shelving, flat files and globe cases were funded by a Stabilizing Humanities Collections Grant of $466,009 from NEH. 

 

The new building is clad with etched aluminum panels depicting Buckminster Fuller's dymaxion projection of the world.

This is looking down Durham Street, Oakhurst Dairy is on the left, and the USM Portland campus is straight ahead and mostly to the right.

This is looking at the geographical center of campus. They recently made the parking lot a bit smaller and did some great landscaping on Bedford Street, but I strongly urge those responsible for this type of stuff to remove about 90% more of this parking lot and create some sort of 'college looking green area in the middle of campus.' The photo was taken from the behemoth parking garage that was completed a few years ago and there is enough space for all students and staff in this garage. 

Payson Smith

USM's Payson Smith hall.

USM Wishcamper Center

The Wishcamper Center on the University of Southern Maine - Portland campus is home to the Muskie School of Public Service, among other things I assume. It was recently opened and I think it turned out pretty well. Some neat facts about the building can be found here, such as:

-The building is heated and cooled by geo-thermal energy from wells drilled 1,500 ft. into the earth.
-Rain water is being collected off the roof and recycled.

Night

The view from the top of the University of Southern Maine parking garage on the Portland campus. I-295 is the highway in the foreground.

Crane

A crane rises from construction at Maine Medical Center's main campus on the Western Promenade. University of Southern Maine law library rises in the background.