MEREDA 2025 Notable Project: Boyd Block, 178 Middle St., Portland

By MEREDA

Located at the prominent intersection of Middle and Exchange streets in Portland’s Old Port, the Boyd Block is a five-story Italianate commercial building originally constructed in 1866-67 following the Great Fire of Portland. Designed by architect George M. Harding, the building has long served as a cornerstone of the city’s financial and professional district.

Over time, the building underwent significant alterations, most notably in the 1920s when a fifth floor was added, original roof elements were removed, storefronts were reconfigured, and windows replaced. Additional mid-20th-century interventions further compromised the building’s architectural integrity, reflecting a broader period of downtown disinvestment. In the 1990s, the Boyd Block began to reclaim its status as an epicenter of the Old Port as Starbucks, the biggest national retail brand in the Old Port at the time, opened in the building’s iconic corner retail space.

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