Moving 49ͼCOM to Portland
Work is underway to relocate the 49ͼ’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (49ͼCOM), Maine’s only medical school, from its original home on our Biddeford Campus to a brand-new building on our Portland Campus. The move will give the 49ͼCOM community a custom-built, state-of-the-art facility, allow the school to train more doctors, and bring together all of UNE’s health professions programs on a single, interprofessional campus — something unique in New England higher education.
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A Transformative Moment For Maine
This is a transformative moment — not just for UNE, but for the state of Maine — allowing us to address critical healthcare disparities across the region and graduate health professionals with best-in-class skills: improving patient outcomes through team-based care; fostering expertise with new and emerging technologies; and expanding our focus on cross-cultural competencies.
Although many details are still being finalized (and are subject to change), look to this page for the latest information, to be updated as the project unfolds.
Highlights From The Groundbreaking
What
The new building will be called the Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences to honor the generosity of the Alfond family and their longtime support of UNE.
Size
Current plans call for the new facility to be 110,000 square feet.
When
COVID has disrupted original plans and estimates. The project groundbreaking took place on November 29, 2022 and is expected to be completed in late 2024.
Where
The new facility will be located behind Innovation Hall, in an area that was once used by the National Guard.
Cost and Funding
The current estimate for the project is $93 million, and 49ͼhas begun fundraising. Early contributions include a generous $30 million commitment from the Harold Alfond Foundation; $5 million in federal funding; and pledges from 49ͼtrustees, alumni, and friends.
49ͼCOM plans to raise an additional $5 million from our college’s alumni and friends. If you'd like to support this important project, please contact Alicia R. Fereday, vice president for Institutional Advancement at afereday@une.edu or (207) 221-4372.
News about the move
49ͼMagazine Special Report
For more details, go backstage with 49ͼleadership for an exclusive oral history of the project.
