UNE's $26 million expansion includes new 300-bed residence hall, blue synthetic turf field and wildlife habitat protection

The University of New England has embarked on a $26 million expansion of the Biddeford Campus with the construction of a new 300-bed residence hall and athletics field across Pool Street in Biddeford.

The UNE Nor'easters are known as Big Blue, and that will be reflected in the new athletics field's blue synthetic turf, one of a kind in the NCAA Division III and one of only four blue turfs in the nation.

The project, which is expected to employ 245 area construction workers over a 12-month period, is one of the largest construction projects currently under way in the state. It is estimated the materials used in the building will also support an additional 300 other jobs off-campus.

In addition to its economic impact, the project will also preserve 170 acres of important wildlife habitat in perpetuity.

Residence Hall

The new residence hall, scheduled to be completed in time for UNE student occupancy in fall 2010, will be four stories. The accommodations include two types of suites: some with four single bedrooms and others with two single bedrooms and a double. 

All the suites will have kitchenettes, living rooms and spacious bathrooms. Each floor will have two study areas, while the ground floor will include a lounge and a fitness area. WiFi will be accessible throughout the building. The new hall will be the fifth suite-style hall built at UNE in the last decade.

A Pond with Fountains

The new residence hall is the first of four that will eventually surround the new pond and green. The pond will include two fountains, and the green and pond will be bordered by a quarter-mile running/walking trail. The green will provide space for social activities such as barbecues, as well as intramural and informal recreational sports and activities - a perfect space for a pickup game of Frisbee or touch football. In winter the pond will be turned into an ice skating rink.

"Today's students have high expectations," explains Karen Lucas, dean of enrollment management. "Suite-style residence halls are very attractive to them. Students are excited about living in these brand new accommodations." The additional residence hall will also afford more opportunities to house international students and visiting scholars as well, she said.

The Athletics Field

Director of Athletics Kim Allen is excited about the blue synthetic turf and the spirit it will inspire. "The students are going to love it," she said. "It's going to give us a competitive advantage for home games. The other teams are going to fear coming to the University of New England."

The new turf will be used mostly for stick sports teams, such as the 2009 ECAC Championship women's field hockey team and both the men's and women's lacrosse teams. The turf will be short-bladed to accommodate these sports, but it will cover a full-sized soccer field that can be used by the soccer and other teams when needed, especially during the inclement weather of early spring and late fall. 

Not only is the new field going to benefit intercollegiate athletics, the entire student body will benefit because it will also be used for intramural sports, especially in the evenings, utilizing the field's full lighting. 

Allen said it also opens up possibilities for community use during down time, as well as more possibilities for sports camps.

Street and Sidewalks

To fully integrate the new complex with the rest of the campus, the University has initiated a series of infrastructure improvements to Pool Street. Working with the Maine Department of Transportation, UNE is constructing a new ground-level gateway under Pool Street to provide a safe walkway for the University community. Sidewalks will be constructed on both sides of the street from the entrance of the campus to the new complex with three well designed crosswalks. In addition, state officials are lowering the speed limit on the street to 35 mph. New lights will added along the street, sidewalks and throughout the new complex.

Wildlife Habitat Protected

A key part of the University's five-year master plan for the Biddeford Campus is the protection of important natural habit on the University's 580-plus acres of land. Working with the City of Biddeford, the University identified 63 acres on the west side of Pool Street that were the most suitable for development, while also identifying 170 acres of important wildlife habitat. 

The 170 acres, which includes 38 vernal pools, will be put under a conservation easement in perpetuity. This conservation easement, along with 20 acres previously conserved, brings the total to 190 acres. This conserved area continues to serve as a natural laboratory for UNE researchers and science and environmental studies classes, as well as benefiting the community as a whole. 

Hedley Reynolds Way

In recognition of his many contributions to UNE - including his instrumental role in acquiring the land across Pool Street - the main street into the new section of the campus will be named Hedley Reynolds Way after the University's former president who passed away in September 2009.