NORTH BRIDGTON, ME – After an extensive search, Bridgton Academy has selected Hampshire Development Corporation of Exeter, New Hampshire, to conduct a major renovation project on Cleaves Hall, Bridgton Academy’s largest dormitory.
Scheduled to begin on January 24, the work will be focused mainly to the interior of the building, although the hall’s legendary front facade remaining largely untouched. Main components of the project will be the construction of an additional staff apartment on the third floor, as well as upgrades to all systems, including plumbing, electrical, safety, heating, and technology. Though the iconic exterior of the building will not be changed, there will be some updating of the porch pillars and railings to match existing design, as well as the addition of an ADA-accessible ramp and increased parking.
Renovations are projected to be complete in time for the arrival of the Class of 2019 on August 25.
“We’re extremely excited to get this project going,” said Bridgton Academy Head of School, Mr. Martin Mooney. “Cleaves Hall is a central part of Bridgton Academy’s history; this work will not only provide our students with a safe and comfortable place to live and study, but it will also reinforce Cleaves’s central place in the Academy’s future.”
Originally designated as a women’s residence, Cleaves Hall was formally named in 1914 after Bridgton alumnus and former Maine Governor, Henry B. Cleaves. The dormitory, which has served 108 consecutive Bridgton Academy classes, is perhaps the Academy’s most famous landmark.
Bridgton Academy’s mission is to provide a program for young men in a unique, one-year postgraduate environment to prepare for the competitive rigors of college and beyond. Bridgton Academy is located in western Maine, in the town of North Bridgton.
Founded in 1987, Hampshire Development Corporation has enjoyed a long history of providing New Hampshire and Massachusetts with reliable, timely, and in-budget contracting services. Visit them at http://www.hdcgeneralcontractor.com/.
