Maine Maritime Museum

Maine Maritime Museum invites qualified multidisciplinary consultant teams to submit proposals for campus planning and conceptual design services.

Located on the historic Percy & Small Shipyard along the Kennebec River, the Museum seeks a creative, practical vision for its waterfront campus, centered on the future of the Maritime History Building. The study will explore completing the building’s original two-phase vision to expand the year-round visitor experience, improve collections storage and preservation, and modernize aging building systems.

The scope includes existing-conditions and space-needs assessment; stakeholder engagement; conceptual architectural design and a campus framework; sustainability and waterfront resilience strategies; and a phased implementation roadmap with preliminary cost estimates. Recommendations should support capital planning and fundraising while respecting the campus’s historic character.

Teams should bring expertise in architecture, historic preservation, structural and MEP/energy engineering, cost estimating, and civil/site or landscape design. Experience with museums, cultural institutions, and historic waterfront sites is particularly relevant. Exhibit-design capacity or coordination experience is welcome but optional.

Key dates

Questions and indications of interest due: October 9, 2026

Proposals due: October 30, 2026

Anticipated kickoff: January 2027 The planning process is expected to take approximately 6–12 months.

To request the full RFP, ask questions, or arrange a campus tour, email proposals@mainemaritime.org. Materials listed in the RFP’s “Existing Materials & Background” section will be shared with firms that intend to submit a proposal; please use the same address to request specific materials.