Thu, 08/27/2026 - 3:33pm

UMaine News

(Photo courtesy UMaine News)

Students returning to UMaine this fall will find a campus that looks — and in many places functions — noticeably different than it did when they left in May.

New research and education facilities are open. Major athletics construction is taking shape. More parking spaces have been added, and new sidewalks, roads, landscaping and lighting are changing how people move through campus.

Here are 10 of the biggest changes you’ll notice:

1. GEM is opening

UMaine’s new 47,000-square-foot GEM facility is opening soon. Home to the Factory of the Future, it combines AI-enabled 3D printing, advanced manufacturing, research, industry collaboration and hands-on student learning opportunities statewide.

2. SAWIC is opening

The new 14,200-square-foot Sustainable Aquaculture Workforce Innovation Center is also opening soon. Students will train with commercial-scale aquaculture systems while supporting applied research in fish health, nutrition, new species and sustainable production practices.

3. More than 236 new parking spaces

A total of 236 parking spaces have been added since commencement. Expanded parking near Dunn and Corbett halls, Wells and the CCA area includes additional visitor and ADA spaces across campus. See an updated map here.

4. Better pedestrian pathways

Getting around campus is easier. New and repaved sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian routes create direct connections, separate pedestrians from vehicles and improve ADA access near Dunn and Corbett halls, Wells Common and Memorial Gym.

5. More green space

Parts of campus once dominated by pavement are getting greener. New grass, trees and landscaping create more open space, improve campus appearance and provide buffers between roads, sidewalks and buildings.

6. Long Road has a new look

Long Road has been rerouted and redesigned with new sidewalks, curbing, landscaping, clearer entrances and better sightlines toward The Mall. A ride-share and short-term drop-off area is also being added.

7. Morse Arena rising

Steel is rising on the future home of Maine Basketball. Morse Arena will feature 2,600-plus seats, a full concourse, club section, video boards, improved amenities and a new student-section experience.

8. Refreshed north campus gateway

The University of Maine sign has been relocated, with improved landscaping and clearer views toward the Maine “M.” The parking lot next to Bennett Hall is also being repaved.

9. Campus landmarks getting a refresh

A fraternity monument displaced by construction has been recreated nearby, and five EV charging stations are planned. Later this fall, the Maine bear monument will get a new granite base and updated plaque.

10. Campus brighter after dark

New lighting is being installed in parking and pedestrian areas across north campus. The upgrades illuminate routes after dark while directional fixtures reduce light spill and impacts on nocturnal wildlife.

Click here for photos.

About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts/ and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts/.