ORONO, Maine—The Town of Orono has broken ground on a project that will convert a long-vacant downtown bank building into a new standalone headquarters for the Orono Police Department, pairing a public safety investment with the revitalization of a prominent Main Street property.
Located at 56 Main Street, the former Bank of America building will be renovated into a modern police station designed to meet the department’s current and future operational needs. The project replaces the department’s existing quarters within the town’s Public Safety Building, which it shares with the fire department. Officials have said the police department has outgrown the current facility and needs additional space to improve efficiency and accommodate future growth.
Rather than pursuing new construction, town leaders opted to repurpose an existing structure that has sat vacant for years in the heart of downtown. The approach preserves a highly visible community asset while providing the police department with a central location near other municipal services.
Town officials have emphasized the importance of the building’s Main Street presence, noting that the new headquarters will offer greater visibility and accessibility within the community. The downtown location is particularly significant in a town that serves thousands of students attending the nearby University of Maine.
The approximately $3.54 million project includes renovation of the existing building, along with features such as vehicle storage, dedicated parking, additional workspace, and support areas for department personnel. Once complete, the facility will allow police staff and officers to work from a single floor rather than being split between multiple areas of the current building.
Benchmark Construction is serving as construction manager on the project, working with CWS Architecture + Interior Design, Sebago Technics, and Salas O’Brien. Construction is expected to continue into next year, when the department plans to begin operations from its new downtown home.
