Retail Complex ......................................... Wells,Maine

Located along a busy retail strip on Route 1, the new complex was proposed as a means to bring fresh vitality to the Wells Beach business district. As part of an informal master plan, the proposal aimed to blend an old A&P supermarket structure from years gone by with the modern requirements of a new multi-tenant retail facility. Along with the new building, other improvements to the site included a new parking lot, pedestrian and vehicular access controls, new sidewalks, and the relocation of major overhead utility services to underground.The building itself was a hodgepodge of additions and renovations spanning several decades. The original A&P edifice was preserved and used as an architectural moniker for the remaining building. Both ends of the more than three hundred foot long facility were anchored by large colonial pediments supported by a Roman ordered colonnade, which provides shelter for customers as they shop from store to store. Traditional building materials were used all through the exterior to give it a contextual identity consistent with the surrounding neighborhood. Once complete, the new retail complex should be an impetus for future development in the area.