The Boyd Block Wins 2026 Maine Preservation Award

Maine Preservation has named East Brown Cow as a winner of a 2026 Maine Preservation Honor Award for the Boyd Block at 178 Middle Street, recognizing one of the most comprehensive historic preservation projects ever undertaken in Portland’s Old Port. 

Since 1998, the annual Maine Preservation Honor Awards have celebrated excellence in the rehabilitation of historic buildings across the state, honoring projects that combine rigorous research, craftsmanship, and long-term stewardship. The restoration of the Boyd Block exemplifies this mission; the project returned a post–Great Fire landmark designed by the prominent Portland architect George M. Harding back to its architectural roots while reinforcing its role in the city’s vibrant downtown.

“We’re deeply honored to receive this recognition from Maine Preservation,” said Jacob Soley, Director of Development at East Brown Cow. “The Boyd Block demanded an extraordinary level of care, research, and collaboration. Our goal was not simply to restore a building, but to faithfully return George M. Harding’s vision to the urban fabric of the Old Port—so it can continue to serve the city for generations to come.”

"We are pleased to recognize the transformative rehabilitation of the Boyd Block in Portland's Old Port neighborhood,” said Tara Kelly, Executive Director of Maine Preservation. “East Brown Cow's four-year journey to shore up the structure, reverse piecemeal renovations, and uncover nineteenth century architectural details affirms their continued commitment to revitalizing buildings that ground our sense of place and contribute to our local economy."

Constructed in the immediate aftermath of Portland’s Great Fire of 1866, the Boyd Block is a five-story Italianate commercial building that was completed in 1867. It is one of five Harding-designed buildings erected along Middle Street and Exchange Street during Portland’s rapid reconstruction period, when the city rebounded with remarkable speed following the largest urban fire in American history at the time. 

From its earliest days, the Boyd Block occupied a pivotal location at the intersection of Middle and Exchange Streets—an epicenter of Portland’s financial and professional life. 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.

East Brown Cow acquired the Boyd Block in January 2021 and undertook a multi-year rehabilitation from fall 2021 through 2025. Utilizing federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits, the $22 million project involved a comprehensive, building-wide intervention that balanced historic preservation with modern performance standards. The building was quite literally taken apart—at one point, you could stand in the basement and see the roof rafters—and reconstructed to meticulous detail. 

Among the project’s most significant preservation achievements was the recovery and restoration of original interior millwork. False walls installed decades earlier were removed to reveal intact 1867-era window casings, baseboards, trim, chair rails, and picture rails. These elements were carefully cataloged, restored, and reinstalled; where materials were missing, custom knives were fabricated to precisely replicate original profiles—ensuring continuity with Harding’s original design.

The Docent's Collection

Today, the ground floor of the Boyd Block is home to respected Maine businesses, including Rough & Tumble and Bangor Savings Bank. The upper floors feature one- and two-bedroom private lofts as part of The Docent’s Collection, an award-winning hospitality concept that blends the first-class hospitality of a hotel stay with modern, mobile-first service and personalized amenities more typically associated with a luxury residential rental. Guests from around the world can now experience this historic landmark firsthand, where strikingly modern interiors are juxtaposed with carefully preserved architectural details.

This is the second time East Brown Cow has received a Maine Preservation Honor Award. In 2023, the firm was recognized for the historic rehabilitation of the Abraham Robinson Block at 115 Middle Street in Portland, Maine. The Abraham Robinson Block also features lofts in The Docent’s Collection and was the second historic building to be renovated after the hospitality brand was created in the upper floors of 121 Middle Street in 2019.