Set on a picturesque campus in coastal Maine, Bowdoin College is one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges. Founded in 1794, its alumni include luminaries such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In 2004, the institution tapped SOM to create a master plan that would guide campus development for the next 50 years and beyond. The planning process involved a series of discussions with the administration, faculty, students, and officials from the Town of Brunswick.

In response to the community’s input, SOM devised a comprehensive scheme that addresses instructional needs and student services, along with strategies for land acquisition, parking, and campus infrastructure. Specifically, the plan outlines how to accommodate the expansion of academic programs, the demand for additional student housing, and the replacement or renovation of important facilities. The overall principle is that new construction needs to be thoughtfully balanced with existing buildings on Bowdoin’s beloved, historic campus.