The Boyd Block Wins 2026 Greater Portland Landmarks Preservation Award

East Brown Cow is proud to announce that the Boyd Block, located at 178 Middle Street in Portland's Old Port, has received a 2026 Preservation Award from Greater Portland Landmarks. The awards program recognizes outstanding preservation efforts that protect and enhance the historic character of Greater Portland.

The Boyd Block joins the Thompson Block, which received a Greater Portland Landmarks Preservation Award in 2025. Together, the projects highlight the role historic preservation continues to play in the stewardship and revitalization of Portland's historic downtown.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from Greater Portland Landmarks,” said Tim Soley, President of East Brown Cow. “The Boyd Block represents the very best of what historic preservation can achieve. Through years of research, craftsmanship, and collaboration, we were able to uncover and restore architectural elements that had been hidden for generations while creating a building that continues to serve Portland residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Greater Portland Landmarks has played an important role in advocating for the preservation of the places that define Portland's character, and we're grateful for their leadership. Receiving this award is especially meaningful because it comes from an organization so deeply connected to the city this project was designed to celebrate.”

Constructed in 1866–1867 following Portland’s Great Fire and designed by prominent local architect George M. Harding, the Boyd Block played a significant role in the city’s rebuilding effort and emergence as a commercial center. Occupying the prominent intersection of Middle and Exchange Streets, the five-story Italianate building has long served as a hub of business activity in the Old Port.

Over the decades, a series of alterations obscured many of the building’s defining architectural features. East Brown Cow’s $22 million rehabilitation sought to reverse that trend through an extensive restoration that combined historic preservation with comprehensive structural and systems modernization.

The project revealed and restored original 1867-era millwork, including window casings, baseboards, and trim that had been concealed behind later renovations. Historic photographs, paint analysis, and physical evidence guided the recreation of architectural elements throughout the building, including custom-designed wood windows that match the original proportions and detailing. Masonry restoration, structural repairs, and the preservation of features such as the building’s original lobby staircase and historic mosaic flooring further returned the Boyd Block to its historic character.

At the same time, the project introduced modern infrastructure to support the building’s long-term viability, including accessibility improvements, new elevators and circulation systems, and fully electric mechanical systems designed to support a more sustainable future.

“The Boyd Block has benefited from an extraordinary revitalization under the stewardship of East Brown Cow,” said Kate Lemos McHale, Executive Director of Greater Portland Landmarks. “The project team’s deep commitment to historic preservation is evident in their meticulous research, craftsmanship, and the creative technical solutions they found to restore this significant post-Great Fire commercial building, while ensuring its continued relevance and vitality. The prominent Boyd Block stands as an exceptional example of how historic preservation can honor the past while creating new opportunities for residents, businesses, and visitors to engage with Portland’s architectural heritage.”

Today, the building is home to Bangor Savings Bank and Maine-based leather goods maker Rough & Tumble at street level, continuing a long tradition of commerce at one of Portland’s most prominent intersections. The upper floors house 16 lofts operated by The Docent’s Collection, East Brown Cow’s boutique hospitality brand that combines the privacy and character of luxury residential accommodations with the service and amenities of a hotel stay.

The rehabilitation demonstrates how historic preservation can support contemporary uses while retaining the architectural integrity that makes Portland’s historic buildings unique. Through The Docent’s Collection, visitors have the opportunity to experience one of Portland’s most significant historic buildings firsthand, surrounded by restored architectural details that connect them directly to the city’s post-Great Fire history while supporting continued investment in the preservation of downtown Portland’s historic building stock.

The Boyd Block’s rehabilitation has also received statewide recognition, earning a 2026 Maine Preservation Honor Award from Maine Preservation and a 2026 MEREDA Notable Project Award. Together with the Greater Portland Landmarks Preservation Award, these honors underscore the project’s success in balancing historic preservation, economic vitality, and long-term stewardship of one of Portland’s most significant historic buildings.

Located opposite Tommy’s Park and Post Office Park, the Boyd Block occupies one of the most visible sites in the Old Port. Its restored façade and architectural lighting now contribute prominently to the character of Portland’s historic downtown, ensuring that this important landmark continues to tell the story of Portland’s resilience, craftsmanship, and evolution.

The project has also served as a model for the use of federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits, which funded approximately 45 percent of the project’s costs and helped make the extensive preservation effort possible.

To learn more about The Docent’s Collection, please visit www.thedocentscollection.com. To learn more about Greater Portland Landmarks, please visit www.portlandlandmarks.org.