ABSTRACT 
 
 
 
 
Title of Thesis: THE ARCHITECTURE OF WHARVES: 
REIMAGINING PORTLAND’S WORKING 
WATERFRONT FOR THE FUTURE 
  
 Ryan Joseph Banger, Master of Architecture, 
2018 
  
Thesis Directed By: Professor, Brian Kelly, School of Architecture, 
Planning, and Preservation 
 
 
A New England city composed of rich history, a strong cultural identity, and diverse 
groups of people; Portland, Maine is acknowledged as a city for the people. The 
wharves along the harbor’s edge of the city create an important symbolic reminder 
within the city of the centuries of fishing and trading that supported the state of 
Maine. As the population of the city grew over time, the wharves became 
disconnected with the expansion of vehicular infrastructure. This thesis explores the 
cultural identity of Portland’s waterfront edge and the possibility of reconnecting the 
flourishing waterfront industries with the urban fabric through sustainability, master 
planning techniques and technological advancements that will address current 
environmental issues. This thesis further explores the pedestrian experience in the city 
by proposing an architecture that will enhance these experiences through stronger 
connections with local culture and communities. 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE ARCHITECTURE OF WHARVES: REIMAGINING PORTLAND’S 
WATERFRONT FOR THE FUTURE 
 
 
 
by 
 
 
Ryan Joseph Banger 
 
 
 
 
 
Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the  
University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment 
of the requirements for the degree of 
Master of Architecture 
2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advisory Committee: 
Professor Brian Kelly, AIA, Chair 
Clinical Associate Professor James Tilghman 
Professor Steven Hurtt 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© Copyright by 
Ryan Joseph Banger 
2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Acknowledgements 
Professor Brian Kelly, AIA 
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you and for the inspiration to 
think outside the box throughout this design process. This could not have been 
possible without your support. 
 
Torti Gallas + Partners 
Thank you for providing me with the experience on creating architecture for the 
people and reimagining a better world for the future through architecture. 
 
Classmates 
Thank you for the constant support throughout this challenging process, it could not 
have been done without this motivation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ii 
 
 
 
Table of Contents 
 
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... ii	
List of Figures ............................................................................................................... v	
Chapter 1: Creating the Cultural Image ........................................................................ 1	
Discovery .................................................................................................................. 2	
Growth ...................................................................................................................... 5	
Stabilization .............................................................................................................. 5	
Current Conditions of the City .................................................................................. 6	
Neighborhoods ...................................................................................................... 6	
Demographics ....................................................................................................... 7	
Connectivity ........................................................................................................ 10	
Chapter 2: Forming the Industries of Portland ........................................................... 14	
History of the Fishing Industry ............................................................................... 14	
Establishment of the Commercial Industry ......................................................... 14	
Introduction of Fishing Regulations and Laws ................................................... 15	
Current Day Fishing Industry ................................................................................. 16	
Business Relationships of the Fishing Industry .................................................. 17	
Current Environmental Conditions ..................................................................... 19	
Building Program Spaces of the Fishing Industry .............................................. 19	
History of the Trading Industry .............................................................................. 22	
Forms of Trading ................................................................................................ 23	
Current-Day Trading Industry ................................................................................ 23	
Overview of the Trading Zones .......................................................................... 23	
Goods of the Current-Day Market ...................................................................... 24	
Chapter 3: Site Analysis .............................................................................................. 26	
Site Selection .......................................................................................................... 26	
Cultural ................................................................................................................... 28	
Main Streets: Linear Nodes of Human Activity ................................................. 28	
Events and Landmarks ........................................................................................ 31	
Local Building Materials .................................................................................... 34	
Environmental ......................................................................................................... 35	
Topography ......................................................................................................... 36	
Climate ................................................................................................................ 37	
Accessibility ............................................................................................................ 39	
Open Spaces ........................................................................................................ 39	
Existing Streets and Buildings ............................................................................ 41	
Local Typologies .................................................................................................... 42	
Elevation Studies ................................................................................................ 42	
Complete Streets ................................................................................................. 44	
Economic ................................................................................................................ 47	
New Developments ................................................................................................. 47	
Chapter 4: Adapting to the Future .............................................................................. 51	
Urban Farming ........................................................................................................ 51	
Influences and Benefits ....................................................................................... 51	
Case Study: GrowUp Box London ..................................................................... 52	
iii 
 
 
 
Renewable Energy .................................................................................................. 54	
Sustainable Master Planning Techniques ........................................................... 54	
Renewable Energy in the Building ..................................................................... 57	
Renewable Energy in the Building ..................................................................... 59	
Adapting Waterfront Technologies: Rising Sea Levels .......................................... 60	
Coastal Components and Hazards ...................................................................... 60	
Adaptive Urban Waterfront Strategies ................................................................ 62	
Chapter 5:  Understanding the Waterfront City Typologies ....................................... 66	
New England Waterfront Cities: Portsmouth, New Hampshire ............................. 66	
Connection to City .............................................................................................. 66	
Waterfront Program ............................................................................................ 66	
Hot Spots and Views ........................................................................................... 67	
Connection to City .............................................................................................. 67	
Waterfront Program ............................................................................................ 68	
Hot Spots and Views ........................................................................................... 69	
European Waterfront Cities: Helsinki, Finland ...................................................... 69	
Connection to City .............................................................................................. 69	
Waterfront Program ............................................................................................ 70	
Hot Spots and Views ........................................................................................... 70	
Reconnecting the City’s Waterfront Edge: Philadelphia, PA ................................. 71	
Connection to City .............................................................................................. 71	
Waterfront Program ............................................................................................ 72	
Hot Spots and Views ........................................................................................... 73	
Chapter 6:  The Cultural Market Hall: Celebrating Local Foods ............................... 74	
Quincy Market: Boston, Massachusetts .................................................................. 74	
Program ............................................................................................................... 74	
Union Market: Washington D.C. ............................................................................ 75	
Program ............................................................................................................... 75	
Boston Public Market: Boston, Massachusetts ....................................................... 76	
Program ............................................................................................................... 76	
Bergen Fish Market ................................................................................................. 77	
Program ............................................................................................................... 78	
Chapter 7:  Concept Explorations: Master Planning and Market ............................... 79	
Portland Waterfront Master Planning Concept Explorations ................................. 79	
Portland Waterfront Market Hall Concept Explorations ........................................ 80	
Cultural Market Hall: Programmatic Spaces ...................................................... 80 
Chapter 8……………………………………………………………………………..83 
    Final Design Outcome…………………………………………………………….83 
    Conclusions………………………………………………………………………..93 
Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 89	
iv 
 
 
 
List of Figures 
Figure 1: The current disconnect of Portland’s waterfront edge 
Figure 2: The rivers of Maine 
Figure 3: Major cities/towns of Maine 
Figure 4: The original goods of rural settlements of Maine 
Figure 5: The current districts of Portland, Maine 
Figure 6: Population growth in Portland 
Figure 7: Central residential hubs of Portland 
Figure 8: Age dispersion in Portland (2012) 
Figure 9: Portland’s population by race (2012) 
Figure 10: Major transportation routes through Portland 
Figure 11: Local public transportation routes and bike paths 
Figure 12: Timeline of Portland’s History 
Figure 13: The four driving factors of Portland’s culture 
Figure 14: Driving forces, pressures, state, impacts, and responses (DPSIR) for 
commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Maine 
Figure 15: Fishing Process - Relationship between fishing and business 
Figure 16: Fishing Process – Gulf of Maine and Portland 
Figure 17: Functions of the Portland’s wharves 
Figure 18: The Functions of Portland Fish Pier and Union Wharf 
Figure 19: Preliminary 2016 Commercial Maine Landings by Ex-vessel Value 
Figure 20: Site Matrix and Existing Site Images 
Figure 21: Thesis site location 
Figure 22: Aerial View of the proposed thesis site 
Figure 23: Walking Radius from thesis site 
Figure 24: Existing live and work of downtown Portland 
Figure 25: Portland’s Main Streets: Linear Nodes of Activity 
Figure 26: Linear nodes of activity: Congress Street 
Figure 27: Linear nodes of activity: Fore Street 
Figure 28: Linear nodes of activity: Commercial Street 
Figure 29: Landmarks/ Significant Views of downtown Portland 
Figure 30: Historic districts of downtown Portland 
Figure 31: Granite of Portland City Hall 
Figure 32: Brick of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House 
Figure 33: Local red sandstone of Portland 
Figure 34: Detail of Mariner’s Church on Fore Street 
Figure 35: Topography/ storm-water runoff of Portland’s waterfront edge 
Figure 36: 100 Year Flood Plain of Portland’s Waterfront edge 
Figure 37: Site section A of the proposed thesis site 
Figure 38: Site section B of the proposed thesis site 
Figure 39: Site section C of the proposed thesis site 
Figure 40: Portland Climate Graph   
Figure 41: Sun and shadows: June 21st 
v 
 
 
 
Figure 42: Sun and shadows: December 18th 
Figure 43: Land-use diagram of downtown Portland 
Figure 44: Open spaces in downtown Portland 
Figure 45: Grocery stores/markets in downtown Portland 
Figure 46: Commercial and private docks of Portland’s waterfront 
Figure 47: Street hierarchy of Portland 
Figure 48: Maximum Building heights of downtown Portland 
Figure 49: Overall north Commercial Street Elevation 
Figure 50: North Commercial Street Elevation – section 1 
Figure 51: North Commercial Street Elevation – section 2 
Figure 52: North Commercial Street Elevation – section 3 
Figure 53: South Commercial Street Elevation 
Figure 54: Congress Street Section Perspective 
Figure 55: Wharf Street Section Perspective 
Figure 56: Spring Street Section Perspective 
Figure 57: Commercial Street Section Perspective 
Figure 58: Income levels of downtown 
Figure 59: Location of new developments in downtown Portland 
Figure 60: Unit count of new developments in Portland 
Figure 61: Zoning of downtown Portland 
Figure 62: The GrowUp Box 
Figure 63: GrowUp Farms Growing Process 
Figure 64: GrowUp Community Farm industrial warehouse growing space 
Figure 65: Components of Sustainable Urban Design 
Figure 66: Components of Sustainable Urban Community 
Figure 67: Components of Sustainable Building Design 
Figure 68: Elevated Building Approach 
Figure 69: Fixed Building Approach 
Figure 70: Flexible Building Approach 
Figure 71: Inland Edge Approach 
Figure 72: Shoreline Edge Approach 
Figure 73: Portsmouth, NH: Connection to City 
Figure 74: Portsmouth, NH: Waterfront program 
Figure 75: Portsmouth, NH: Hot spots and views 
Figure 76: Oslo, Norway: Connection to the City 
Figure 77: Oslo, Norway: Waterfront program 
Figure 78: Oslo, Norway: Hot spots and views 
Figure 79: Helsinki, Finland: Connection to the City 
Figure 80: Helsinki, Finland: Waterfront program 
Figure 81: Helsinki, Finland: Hot spots and views 
Figure 82: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Connection to the City 
Figure 83: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Waterfront program 
Figure 84: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hot spots and views 
Figure 85: Quincy Market 
Figure 86: Quincy Market Program Plan Diagram 
Figure 87: Quincy Market Program Section Diagram 
vi 
 
 
 
Figure 88: Union Market 
Figure 89: Union Market program diagram 
Figure 90: Boston Public Market 
Figure 91: Boston Public Market program plan diagram 
Figure 92: Boston Public Market program section diagram 
Figure 93: Bergen Fish Market 
Figure 94: Bergen Fish Market program plan diagram 
Figure 95: Bergen Fish Market program section diagram 
Figure 96: Master plan scheme 1: Conservative approach 
Figure 97: Master plan scheme 2: Moderate approach 
Figure 98: Master plan scheme 3: Radical approach 
Figure 99: Area Tabulation chart of a cultural market hall 
Figure 100: Market Hall Scheme 1: Response to the wharves 
Figure 101: Market Hall Scheme 2: Response to the wharves 
Figure 102: Market Hall Scheme 3: Response to the wharves/cities 
Figure 103: Market Hall Scheme 4: Response to the wharves/cities 
Figure 104: Market Hall Scheme 5: Response to the cities 
Figure 105: Market Hall Scheme 6: Response to the cities 
Figure 105: Community Gateway parti 
Figure 106: Synergy of user types and programmatic spaces 
Figure 107: Before and after site plan of downtown 
Figure 108: Proposed site plan of downtown Portland 
Figure 109: Proposed site section of Center Street 
Figure 110: Aerial view of proposed downtown and community gateway master plan 
Figure 111: Center Street view up to the Time and Temperature building 
Figure 112: Center Street view down to Center Street Wharf Market 
Figure 113: View of Center Street Market from Commercial Street 
Figure 114: Pedestrian Street 
Figure 115: Waterfront urban space – farmer’s market 
Figure 116: Waterfront urban space – summertime concert event 
Figure 117: Waterfront urban space – fireworks event 
Figure 118: Market Hall view 
Figure 119: Upper Market Hall view 
Figure 120: Harbor Pavilion view 
Figure 121: Portland Fish Exchange approach 
Figure 122: Portland Fish Exchange open prepare space 
Figure 123: Portland Fish Exchange open auction space 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
vii 
 
 
 
Chapter 1: Creating the Cultural Image 
The State of Maine illustrates a unique story celebrating its diverse 
inhabitants, local community traditions, and natural resources. The historical narrative 
is the key influencer of Portland’s culture. Portland is the largest city in Maine and is 
credited with supporting much of the state with its working waterfront that was 
established in the 1600s. The cultural identity of Portland is embedded in these 
working wharves, and represents a constant within an ever-changing city. 
Commercial Street, located along the wharves is a crucial link from these wharves to 
regional destination points. This chapter will explore the creation of Portland and how 
Commercial Street evolved from a prominent rail line to a disconnecting factor for 
Portland’s working waterfront. 
 
 
1 
 
 
 
 
Figure 1a: The current disconnect of Portland’s Waterfront Edge (source by author) 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 1b: The proposed reconnect of Portland’s Waterfront Edge (source by author) 
 
Discovery 
Maine encompasses the northeastern corner of the United States, located 
between Canada and the Atlantic Ocean. Originally settled by hunter-gathers and 
Indian tribes who survived off of the post-glacial land, the geographic area was 
mainly untouched up until the early 1600s.1 Three key economic resources that 
                                                
1 Richard W.Judd, et al. “Peopling Maine,” Maine History Online 
https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/879/page/1290/display (Accessed 
October 2, 2017) 
2 
 
 
 
attracted European settlers and savvy merchants when they discovered this vast 
forested area in the early 1600s; the natural resources, the crucial agrarian land, and 
profitable geographical proximity across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. This rural area 
became a beacon of light for explorers looking for new opportunities and small 
agriculture-supported settlements formed. These communities were situated along 
major rivers like the Kennebec and Penobscot rivers, for quick access to the Atlantic 
Ocean.2 The fur trade originally defined the business trade and means of survival. The 
initial discovery and colonization of Maine represented a time of coming to an 
understanding with the local area. 
            
Figure 2: The Rivers of Maine (source by author) 
Figure 3: Major Cities/Towns of Maine (source by author) 
 
 
Settlers and local community people relied heavily on goods for survival 
means. The primary goods sold and bartered were exports of livestock, cut timber 
                                                
2 Richard W. Judd. “Reshaping Maine’s Landscape: Rural Culture, Tourism, and 
Conservation, 1890-1929.” Journal of Forest History 32, no. 4 (1988): 180–190. 
3 
 
 
 
boards, local crops, processed fish, and manufactured goods.3 Ample sources of these 
goods led to more establishments of fishing settlements and trading posts. A “ribbon” 
of settlements was formed as communities settled southward towards the ocean. 
Portland, originally called Casco and then Falmouth Neck, was established as part of 
this movement.4 Portland was essential to the trading industry for the East Coast 
because it was the closest port for transatlantic trading with Europe, 100 miles closer 
than that of Boston.5 The small and rural settlements and ports eventually transitioned 
towards more flourishing towns and cities that increased standards of living as a 
result of the bustling waterfront trading. 
 
Figure 4: The Original Goods of Rural Maine Settlements (source by author) 
                                                
3 Richard W. Judd, et al. “1500-1667 Contact & Conflict.” Maine History Online. 
Accessed October 21, 2017. 
https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/895/page/1306/display. 
4 “History of Portland, Maine.” United States History. Accessed November 2, 2017. 
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2212.html. 
 
5 Richard W. Judd, et al. “1820-1850 A New State & Prosperity.” Maine History 
Online. Accessed October 1, 2017. 
https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/901/page/1312/display. 
4 
 
 
 
Growth 
Growth of cities like Portland in Maine represents prospering economic 
markets from the fishing and trading industries. As more people settled in Maine in 
the late 1700s, the waterfront edge of Portland grew to support major trading and 
shipping routes established to Europe and the West Indies.6 The forests provided 
Maine with timber for sawn lumber to transport goods out of the city and support the 
prominent shipbuilding industry at the time.7 In the 1850s three major railways were 
introduced to the Old Port district that established city-wide economic growth. 
Commercial Street became the location that linked these rail lines and ground 
transportation with other towns and states.8 By the 1870s, wharves, warehouses, and 
businesses developed along Commercial Street to create a diverse community.9 Over 
time, Commercial Street grew as a node of interaction between commercial water and 
rail transportation and local businesses on the waterfront and provided future 
generations of Portland with a distinct cultural identity that is still seen today. 
Stabilization 
Stabilization in Portland represents working industries utilizing natural 
resources to maintain a stable economy. Industrial expansion occurred and 
                                                
6 Judd, et al, “1820-1850 A New State & Prosperity.” 
https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/901/page/1312/display. 
7 “Timeline of Maine History 02: Exploration and Early European Settlement.” 
Maine: An Encyclopedia, May 3, 2017.  
8 “Commercial Street: Portland, Maine.” American Planning Association. 
https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/streets/2008/commercialstreet.htm (accessed 
October 2, 2017) 
9 Joseph A. Conforti. Creating Portland: History and Place in Northern New 
England. University of New Hampshire press, 2005. 
5 
 
 
 
transformed the once small and rural agricultural settlements into cities and 
waterfront ports. Local riverside industrial centers were introduced with mills and 
factories that shipped goods to ports.10 As these centers began to grow, the natural 
appeal of the state became present; introducing the tourism industry into Maine. The 
tourism industry in Maine formed in the late 1800s when people from out of states 
began to realize the natural beauty and pristine quality Maine possessed. Easy 
accessibility by rail made it possible for tourists to reach secluded destinations away 
from the unhealthy conditions of city environments.11 More people and businesses, 
locally and regionally, realized the potential and the beauty of Portland, influencing 
the stabilization of the city. 
Stabilization in Portland and other areas of Maine is represented by the power 
of natural resources, building a strong base for industries, and capitalizing on the 
image of the state through tourism. This time period in history eventually led to the 
existing conditions of Portland. 
Current Conditions of the City 
Neighborhoods 
The growth of the city transformed Portland to what it is today. Composed of 
twenty districts, the city of Portland combined covers approximately 70 square miles, 
surrounded by Casco Bay on the East and the Portland Metropolitan area on the 
                                                
10 Judd, Richard W. “Reshaping Maine’s Landscape: Rural Culture, Tourism, and 
Conservation, 1890-1929.” Journal of Forest History 32, no. 4 (1988): 180–190. 
11 Judd, Richard W. “Reshaping Maine’s Landscape: Rural Culture, Tourism, and 
Conservation, 1890-1929.” Journal of Forest History 32, no. 4 (1988): 180–190. 
6 
 
 
 
West.12 This thesis focuses on the Downtown district of Portland, where the wharves 
are located. The Downtown district of Portland is a central connection point for the 
city through transportation, neighborhoods and culture. From ferry access to Peaks 
Island for island residents to the West End and the East End neighborhoods, there are 
many layers of zones that define Portland.  
 
Figure 5: The Current Districts of Portland, Maine (source by author) 
 
Demographics 
The demographic composition of Portland, Maine is defined through 
population growth over time, age ratio and population dispersion. There has been a 
spike of interest in development in the city with the increase of the city’s population 
and these projects are pushing the boundaries of the urban context. Figure 6 displays 
the downtown area of Portland and how a majority of the city’s population is 
                                                
12 “Portland, Maine.” Wikipedia, October 20, 2017. Accessed October 21, 2017. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portland,_Maine&oldid=806224913. 
7 
 
 
 
concentrated around the edges of the Downtown district; suggesting the future 
possibilities of mixed-use and residential developments moving towards the 
Downtown and Old Port districts of the city.13 Overall, it is important to understand 
the demographic breakdown of Portland to formulate a clear view of how the city is 
composed up of by age, race, and income levels. 
 
Figure 6: Population growth in Portland (source by portlandmaine.gov) 
 
                                                
13 “Portland, ME,” http://www.portlandmaine.gov/. (accessed October 2, 2017) 
 
8 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 7: Central residential hubs of Portland (source by author) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 8: Age dispersion in Portland (2012) (source by City of Portland) 
 
9 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 9: Portland’s population by race (2015) (source by DataUsa) 
 
Connectivity 
Portland has layers of transport links that provide connections locally and 
regionally. Figure 9 highlights the vehicular routes that provide access through the 
city and ferry routes that connect the city with the islands. These ferries are used by 
residents of Peaks Islands and visitors to Diamond Island and Cushing’s Island. There 
was a recent establishment of a cruise line that comes into the deep harbor and takes 
advantage of the unique quality that Old Port has to provide. Commercial Street 
provides the peninsula with access to Interstate 295. There is also an Amtrak rail 
system that is located west of the Downtown and Old Port districts and Portland 
International Jetport that is located south in the city of South Portland.14 There are 
four main public bus routes that connect the Downtown district locally and outwards 
to the residential neighborhoods of Portland.15 There are currently bike trails that are 
                                                
14 “Portland, ME,” http://www.portlandmaine.gov/ (accessed October 2, 2017) 
 
10 
 
 
 
located mainly around Back Cove and through the Eastern Promenade, ending near 
the Maine State Pier, but there is potential to continue that bike trail along 
Commercial Street and towards the West End for improved connectivity and active 
living. The connectivity of Portland is crucial to understanding how residents and 
visitors move around and providing potential improvements through master planning 
and architecture that will bring the city into the future. 
 
Figure 10: Major transportation routes through Portland (source by author) 
 
 
 
11 
 
 
 
Figure 11: Local public transportation routes and bike paths (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 12: The four driving factors of Portland’s cultural image (source by author) 
 
 
 
 
12 
 
 
 
 
Figure 13: Timeline of Portland’s History (source by author) 
13 
 
 
 
Chapter 2: Forming the Industries of Portland 
History of the Fishing Industry 
Fishing created a symbolic image of Maine permanently embedded in the its 
history. The working wharves of Old Port have been preserved since fishing evolved 
into a profitable business venture back in the 1800s.16 In order to create a successful 
waterfront business, a chain of management was established to manage, store, and 
sell the fish and lobster that follow a set of regulations that was determined based on 
previous experiences. This section explores the fishing industry of Portland and how 
it functions in coastal Maine. 
 
Establishment of the Commercial Industry 
Prior to the 1800s, fishing was conducted to serve small and rural settlements 
as a source of food. There were limited forms of transportation and technology was 
not available to properly handle the catch over long distances from the ports. The 
commercial activity for fishing formed with the invention of the smack and made it 
possible to transport live lobster to other coastal port cities like Boston and New 
York.17 These smacks were lobster boats that contained open holding wells on deck 
that protected and maintained the live lobsters as they were being transported long 
distances.18 Growing interest in this particular market and the innovation of 
                                                
16 James M. Acheson. “The Politics of Managing the Maine Lobster Industry - 1860 
to the Present.” Human Ecology 25, no. 1 (1997): 3–27. 
17 Acheson, 3–27 
18 “Lobstering Basics – History,” The University of Maine. Lobster Institute, 
http://umaine.edu/lobsterinstitute/education/lobstering-basics/history/ (accessed 
October 18, 2017). 
14 
 
 
 
technology, lobster canneries around Maine began to appear and define the market in 
the 1800s and the 1900s. The introduction of rail system as a commercial mode of 
transportation in the 1870s made it possible for live lobster to be transported to inland 
commercial markets, transitioning from canning market to a live lobster market.19 
The establishment of the commercial industry of fishing is represented by a process 
of realizing technological advancements and adapting techniques to best serve this 
industry and it’s consumers. 
Introduction of Fishing Regulations and Laws 
Formal regulations and laws were formed in the Maine lobstering industry. 
These regulations and laws addressed health concerns, diminishing population levels 
of lobsters and business tactics conducted by fishermen. These regulations strived to 
protect egg-bearing female lobsters and small lobsters that were not fully developed 
from being caught and sold to avoid extinction of the lobster population. They also 
attempted to protect against the illegal “short lobster” trade that was present. 
Additional lobster conservation laws formed to protect against this illegal activity and 
evolved with the changing fish. Illegal trade became so severe in the 1920s that the 
entire central U.S. coast fishery markets were closed as a warning that drastic 
measures must be taken to protect the fish and lobster.20 It was only a matter of time 
before the market reopened in the late 1920s that the lobster market had to adjust to 
the Great Depression. 
                                                
19 Thoman, Richard S. “Portland, Maine - An Economic-Urban Appraisal.” Economic 
Geography 27, no. 4 (1951): 348–367. 
20 James M. Acheson.  “The Politics of Managing the Maine Lobster Industry - 1860 
to the Present.” Human Ecology 25, no. 1 (1997): 3–27. 
15 
 
 
 
The Great Depression was difficult for all industries in the United States 
nationally. During this time market prices for the lobster and catch/supply levels of 
lobster dropped, creating a decline in business and revenue.21 With the loss of profits, 
many fishermen were not able to support themselves and their families during this 
time. “Lobsters are very scarce and the price so low that together with the weather a 
fisherman can’t earn enough for a living not to mention keeping up their gear.”22 
There were attempts were made to grow the industry through advertising and revising 
conservation laws to overcome the financial disaster. Through trial and error the 
double gauge law was introduced, stating a 3 1/16” minimum length and a 4 ¾” 
maximum; measuring the total backshell length.23 This law merged the maximum 
length limit of lobsters with the existing minimum length to not only protect juvenile 
lobsters, but also the breeding stock provided by larger female lobsters carrying 
eggs.24 This double gauge became a pivotal moment in history that helped bring the 
industry back after the Great Depression and World War II and defined the modern-
day lobster and fishing industries of port cities along the coast today. 
Current Day Fishing Industry 
Today’s fishing and shipping industries of Portland have retained the historic 
character. Commercial fishing and lobstering activities occur mainly on Union Wharf 
                                                
21 Acheson.  “The Politics of Managing the Maine Lobster Industry - 1860 to the 
Present.” 10. 
22 Acheson, 10 
23 Scott, Elizabeth C. “Managing the Maine Lobster Fishery - An Evaluation of 
Alternatives.” Virginia Environmental Law Journal 20, no. 4 (2001): 573–603. 
24 James M. Acheson.  “The Politics of Managing the Maine Lobster Industry - 1860 
to the Present.” Human Ecology 25, no. 1 (1997): 3–27. 
16 
 
 
 
and Portland Fish Pier in the Old Port district. This section focuses on the 
management of the fishing and lobstering processes and to understand how these 
industries work currently. 
Business Relationships of the Fishing Industry 
Waterfront industries rely on the relationship between the catching and selling 
of these goods. The main fisheries that form this industry are groundfish, halibut, 
herring, lobsters, shrimp, scallops, soft-shell clam, and tuna; which are all caught in 
various harbors within the Gulf of Maine at different times of the year. Fishermen 
travel by boat out to their territorial marine locations in the Gulf of Maine to check 
traps, set additional traps and reel in legal catch. The legal catch is brought to the 
wharves to be cleaned and prepared in provided work facilities. Fishermen have 
business relationships with fish dealers to sell their catch. Fish dealers sell this catch 
to pound operators, wholesale firms, or other types of buyers. Selling prices of fish 
and lobsters vary and is determined based on the “going price,” which is the supply 
and demand levels of the fisheries.25 The process of selling occurs relatively fast, as 
the fish and lobster are perishable goods and are expected to remain fresh for 
customers. These business relationships are crucial to the ongoing industrial process 
that occur on the wharves. 
                                                
25 Acheson, James M. “The Maine Lobster Market: Between Market and Hierarchy.” 
Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization 1, no. 2 (1985): 385–398. 
17 
 
 
 
 
Figure 14: Driving forces, pressures, state, impacts, and responses (DPSIR) for commercial fisheries 
in the Gulf of Maine. (source by Gulf of Maine journal article) 
 
 
 
 
Figure 15: Fishing Process - Relationship between fishing and business (source by author) 
 
 
 
Figure 16: Fishing Process – Gulf of Maine and Portland (source by author) 
 
18 
 
 
 
Current Environmental Conditions 
Productivity of the fishing industry relies on environmental conditions. 
Fishing occurs year-round, with limited activity during the winter months for some 
fisheries. Climate change affects the fishing industry through increasing ocean 
temperatures, changing of ocean currents, acidification of the water, and 
redistribution of plants and animals.26 The current annual time frame for fishing has 
an increase of catches between April and mid-November and shifts based on weather 
conditions during this period.27 Increasing ocean temperatures are leading to a 
northward migration of the fish and lobster populations, reconfiguring the existing 
territories for fishermen. Fishermen, dealers, and wholesalers are dependent on the 
marine wildlife to make their livings, making climate change a major influence on the 
fishing industry 
Building Program Spaces of the Fishing Industry 
Building spaces and facilities provide the fishermen with safe and effective 
working spaces. Cleaning and preparation activities occurs in the Portland Fish 
Exchange building on the Portland Fish pier. This building was constructed in 1986 to 
introduce efficiency and effectiveness for this commercial form of production.28 This 
building consolidates tasks involved in the fishing process, so the process of buying 
and selling also occurs in this building. Dealers can inspect their catch here before the 
                                                
26 Brawn, Togue. Portland, Maine - Commercial Fishing Infrastructure Report. 
Community Panels, 2004. 
27 Acheson, James M. “The Maine Lobster Market: Between Market and Hierarchy.” 
Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization 1, no. 2 (1985): 385–398. 
28 Portland Fish Exchange, “Auction,” http://www.pfex.org/auction/ (accessed 
October 10, 2017). 
19 
 
 
 
purchasing it, which is rare in this fast-paced industry. Portland Fish Exchange works 
with Vessel Services to obtain fuel, and with the Vessel Services Gear Company for 
fishing boat gear.29 Portland Fish Pier also has a working open space to provide 
workers with places to work on nets and repair other gear and equipment for smooth 
business operations. Major transportation lines connect Portland Fish Exchange to 
assure fast movement of these perishable goods. The Guilford Rail System connects 
Portland with a majority of upstate New York and to Canadian rail lines.30 Interstate 
295 is used for ground transportation modes, linked by Franklin Street. By 
understanding the wharves, the building programs that contain them and the major 
connection points, there becomes a sense of layering seen along the waterfront of 
Portland. 
 
 
Figure 17: Functions of the Portland’s wharves (source by author) 
                                                
29 Brawn, Togue. Portland, Maine - Commercial Fishing Infrastructure Report. 
Community Panels, 2004. 
30 “Pan Am Railways, Today’s Guilford Rail System.” American-Rails.Com. 
Accessed October 12, 2017. https://www.american-rails.com/par.html. 
20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 18: The Functions of Portland Fish Pier and Union Wharf (source by author) 
 
 Revenue generated by this process is an important economic value for 
Portland. According to Maine Department of Marine Resources, the commercial 
fishing industry brought in $721,197,482 as of February of 2017.31 The staple fishery; 
lobster is the most economically profitable fishery; representing almost 75% of the 
entire fishing industry. Lobstering is the primary fishery that will continue to provide 
Portland and Maine with a stable source of revenue and jobs for many fishermen of 
                                                
31 State of Maine Department of Marine Resources, “Most Recent Maine Commercial 
Landings,” http://www.maine.gov/dmr/commercial-fishing/landings/index.html 
(accessed October 14, 2017). 
21 
 
 
 
the state. Preserving and better utilizing the current wharves of Old Port will better 
serve the industry and continue to adapt to the increased demands for this industry.  
 
Figure 19: Preliminary 2016 Commercial Maine Landings by Ex-vessel Value (source by Maine 
Department of Marine Resources) 
 
 
History of the Trading Industry 
The original trading industry of Portland grew from rural and secluded 
settlements along the rivers. The historical trading industry of the region consisted of 
agricultural trading. Portland was relatively small as the time with small cottages that 
lined along the two main streets of the city leading towards the wharves and bordered 
by mainly forests and water.32 This section focuses on the benefits of trading in 
history and how it’s still important today. 
                                                
32 Bauman, John F. Gateway to Vacationland: The Making of Portland, Maine. 
University of Massachusetts Press, 2012. 
22 
 
 
 
Forms of Trading 
The basis of trading was determined by the natural resources located in the 
regional area of Portland and around Maine. One of the primary forms of trading was 
lumber; provided from the dense forests of the state. Types of timber were oak, 
maple, birch, beech and elm timber, that were mainly shipped regionally. The timber 
was sawn into lumber that was also used locally to support the predominant 
shipbuilding industry.33 The growth of Maine and it’s settlements fueled the growth 
of trade for future generations of Portland.  
Current-Day Trading Industry 
Overview of the Trading Zones 
Portland transformed into a significant trading port that has wholesaling, 
shipping, and the manufacturing of goods. The trading zone is contained within the 
downtown commercial core of Portland, along the wharves and harbor and supported 
by other cities in the Portland Metropolitan Area. The Portland Metropolitan Area are  
five adjacent urban units that serve one another, consisting of Portland, South 
Portland, Westbrook, Cape Elizabeth, and Falmouth. As a result of this, Portland, 
Maine has become one of New England’s most livable cities as the local economy 
and culture of this city flourishes from the support of these diverse industries.34 By 
                                                
33 Bauman, John F. Gateway to Vacationland: The Making of Portland, Maine. 
University of Massachusetts Press, 2012. 
34 Conforti, Joseph A. Creating Portland: History and Place in Northern New 
England. University of New Hampshire press, 2005. 
23 
 
 
 
working with the current trading industry that exists in Portland, it well help to 
support the effective growth of the city into the future. 
Goods of the Current-Day Market 
The wholesale market of Portland includes fuel, food, and clothing supplied to 
retailers. One of the most predominant forms of goods that distributed outward from 
the city is petroleum. The petroleum pipeline was originally established between 
Portland and Montreal that formed Portland into an oil.35 Petroleum is important 
because of increasing demand for this goods grows regionally.  Other goods that are 
included within wholesaling are grain, lumber, automobile accessories, drugs, and 
electric equipment.36 These goods represent a market that was established through the 
recognition of the potential that the natural resources of the state represented.  
 The trading and shipping markets of Portland is a diverse inventory of goods 
shipped by a network of regional transport. There are three requirements for a 
thriving shipping industry; marketable goods, favorable elements (weather, climate, 
currents, and tides), and hospitable harbors.37 Portland’s trading industries are 
important to supporting the local economy and livability of Portland. The current-day 
trading industry of Portland will influence the functions so that it can be applied 
                                                
35 Conforti, Joseph A. Creating Portland: History and Place in Northern New 
England. 
36 Thoman, Richard S. “Portland, Maine - An Economic-Urban Appraisal.” Economic 
Geography 27, no. 4 (1951): 348–367. 
37 Judd, Richard W., Karen Kimball, Elizabeth De Wolfe, and Candace Kanes. “Trade 
& Transport.” Maine History Online, 
https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/885/page/1296/display (accessed 
October 5, 2017) 
24 
 
 
 
effectively to this proposed master plan of Portland understanding of trade routes, 
nodes of trade, and efficient techniques of movement. 
   
25 
 
 
 
Chapter 3: Site Analysis 
 
Site Selection 
 
Figure 20: Site Matrix and Existing Site Images (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 21: Site Location (source by author) 
26 
 
 
 
 
Figure 22: Aerial View of the proposed thesis site (source by author) 
 
Figure 23: Walking Radius from thesis site (source by author) 
 
27 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Figure 24: Existing Live and Work of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
Cultural 
Main Streets: Linear Nodes of Human Activity 
Culture is seen within the four main streets that contain linear nodes of human 
activities. Commercial Street is recognized as a main street where a mix of retail 
stores, restaurants and working waterfront industries are situated. While these 
activities are located along the same street, there is a disconnect caused by the street 
itself; with four lanes of fast-moving vehicular traffic, it becomes a place of 
uncertainty and chaos. The north side of Commercial Street is lined with the retail 
stores and restaurants that attract many local visitors and tourists each year and the 
28 
 
 
 
south side of Commercial Street is composed of a more transparent urban edge that 
opens towards the wharves and the harbor. Fore Street is a main street that acts as a 
transitional street from the waterfront urban edge mentioned before to the central 
downtown area of Portland. Congress Street is the central downtown main street that 
contains landmark buildings like Portland City Hall and Portland Public Library and 
civic spaces like Monument Square, as seen in figure 29. This square hosts many 
different forms of activities from farmer’s markets in the summer to festivals in the 
fall. The main streets of downtown Portland are important linear nodes of activity for 
people and create interactions with the historic architecture. 
 
Figure 25: Portland’s Main Streets: Linear Nodes of Activity (source by author) 
 
 
29 
 
 
 
 
Figure 26: Congress Street: Linear Nodes of Activity (source by author) 
 
 
 
Figure 27: Fore Street: Linear Nodes of Activity (source by author) 
 
30 
 
 
 
 
Figure 28: Commercial Street: Linear Nodes of Activity (source by author) 
 
 
Events and Landmarks 
Portland has layers of cultural elements that are celebrated predominantly 
through many different annual events and festivals in the city. Old Port Festival, 
celebrated every year on a Sunday in June, kicks off the summer with a pedestrian-
friendly festival that showcases local businesses, hosts popular music bands, and sells 
local baked goods and drinks. Many of the streets in downtown Portland are closed 
down to vehicles and replaced with people roaming the streets and checking out 
clothing, crafts and accessories being sold by local businesses. Stages are placed 
throughout the city with live music, a parade route is established, and vendor stands 
are situated along the main streets that all create an atmosphere of excitement and 
liveliness. While this festival only spans a day in the whole year; it encompasses a 
wide range of culture of Portland into one afternoon. There are other festivals and 
events that occur throughout the year; like the SchoonerFest “Tall Ships Portland” 
31 
 
 
 
festival along the wharves and Harvest on the Harbor that engages local chefs and 
their food and drink creations. The SchoonerFest “Tall Ships Portland” occurs one 
weekend in June and showcases some of the fastest schooners in the country that race 
against local schooners within Portland’s Harbor.38 The Harvest on the Harbor 
festival occurs in October and contains locally grown and sustainable foods, lobster, 
beer, and restaurants.39 These events reflect an important cultural aspect to the city 
about connecting the people with the diverse history of the city. 
 
Figure 29: Landmarks/ Significant Views of downtown Portland (source by author) 
                                                
38 “Portland SchoonerFest & Regatta.” Tall Ships Portland. Accessed November 3, 
2017. http://tallshipsportland.org/portland-schoonerfest/. 
39 “Harvest on the Harbor | Maine Food and Wine Festival Fit for Foodies.” Accessed 
December 14, 2017. https://harvestontheharbor.com/. 
32 
 
 
 
 
Figure 30: Historic Districts of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
Culture is also represented by historic and contemporary landmarks located 
through the peninsula. Many of these landmarks are located within walking distance 
of the proposed thesis site. Cross Insurance Arena is a multi-functional arena that 
hosts different types of events from concerts to hockey games. The Portland Museum 
of Art is a prominent influence in the Arts District of Portland. The addition fronting 
Congress Square, designed by Henry N. Cobb of I.M. Pei & Partners, draws 
inspiration from the New England seaport architecture and contains local Maine 
materials and celebrates natural light. These landmarks are a crucial part of using 
architecture to create a physical representation of what culture is in Portland and 
around Maine. 
33 
 
 
 
Local Building Materials 
Local building materials of Maine are a good example of how the culture is 
represented. The two primary materials composing these facades are brick and 
granite. Many of these historical buildings were constructed after much of the city 
was destroyed during the Great Portland Fire of 1866.40 From the biotite-muscovite 
granite of Portland City Hall to the brick of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House to the 
iron and sandstone of the Centennial Block, the building materials is an important use 
of the local resources of Maine.  
 
Figure 31: Granite of City Hall (source by Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry) 
Figure 32: Brick of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House (source by Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation & Forestry) 
 
                                                
40 Bauman, John F. Gateway to Vacationland: The Making of Portland, Maine. 
University of Massachusetts Press, 2012. 
34 
 
 
 
 
Figure 33: Local red sandstone of Portland (source by Department of Agriculture, Conservation & 
Forestry) 
Figure 34: Detail of Mariner’s Church on Fore Street (source by Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation & Forestry) 
 
Environmental 
Environmental considerations are an important part of analyzing Portland 
along the waterfront edge. Portland is a temperamental northern city that experiences 
a wide range of weather annually. The relationship between land and water is an 
important consideration to understanding how the city edge can be built up in the 
future. This section will focus on the topography, weather conditions, the flood zone 
and rising sea levels of downtown Portland.  
35 
 
 
 
Topography 
 
Figure 35: Topography/ storm-water runoff of Portland’s waterfront edge (source by author) 
Topography determines the stacking relationship of buildings in master 
planning. Figure 35 highlights the high and low points of the proposed thesis site and 
how it relates to the 100-year flood plain map. The high is located up by Congress 
Street, sloping down towards the water. This topography greatly affects storm water 
runoff, rising sea levels and building forms. The current topographical conditions of 
the site will create a unique relationship between the proposed buildings that will 
create a natural interaction with the landscape. 
36 
 
 
 
 
Figure 36: 100 Year Flood Plain of Portland’s Waterfront edge (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 37: Site section A of the proposed thesis site (source by author) 
 
Figure 38: Site section B of the proposed thesis site (source by author) 
Figure 39: Site section C of the proposed thesis site (source by author) 
 
 
 
 
Climate 
 There are many different components to the annual climate of Portland, 
Maine. Figure 40 highlights the annual temperatures and precipitation of Portland for 
2015. This city experiences all four seasons and the thesis site is surrounded by 
37 
 
 
 
buildings so sun directions and shading is an important component of the orientation 
of proposed buildings. Figure 41 displays the effect of shadows on the site during 
June and December at all times of the day. Climate should be accounted for in the 
building design and the design should be interactive and effective with this norther 
waterfront climate.  
 
 
Figure 40: Portland Climate Graph (source by NOAA) 
 
 
 
Figure 41: Sun and shadows: June 21st (source by author) 
 
Figure 42: Sun and shadows: December 18th (source by author) 
38 
 
 
 
Accessibility 
Open Spaces 
Open spaces are key in the city to create balanced relationship between the 
built environment and civic spaces. Based on the figure diagram presented, a series of 
open spaces were located throughout the peninsula of Portland. The three prominent 
open spaces are the Eastern Promenade, Western Promenade and Deering Oaks Park. 
The Eastern Promenade is located along the east end of the peninsula, offering 
unobstructed views to Casco Bay, a boat launch and trails for bikers and pedestrians. 
Open spaces are also defined by parking lots. The expansion of vehicle infrastructure 
systems during urban renewal took place in cities, leading to the creation of city 
blocks as parking zones. The site for this thesis is located on two large parking lots 
that service many employees that commute from outside of the downtown area of 
Portland. By transforming these parking lots into programmatic functions for people, 
it will greatly improve and transform the character of Portland. 
    
Figure 43: Land-use diagram of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
39 
 
 
 
 
Figure 44: Open Spaces of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 45: Grocery stores/markets in downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
40 
 
 
 
 
Figure 46: Commercial and private docks of Portland’s waterfront (source by author) 
Existing Streets and Buildings 
 
Figure 47: Street hierarchy of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
41 
 
 
 
 
Figure 48: Maximum building heights of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
Local Typologies 
Elevation Studies 
 The proposed thesis site is surrounded by a context of historical buildings that 
contain classical orders in the facades. In order to create a successful design, the 
proposed design of the master plan and market hall must respond to the hierarchy of 
order and repetition that defines the urban edge of the Old Port district. Façade 
studies were conducted to understand the relationship between the composition of 
classical orders and programmatic spaces contained within these buildings. 
 
Figure 49: Overall north Commercial Street Elevation (source by author) 
42 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 50: North Commercial Street Elevation – section 1 (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 51: North Commercial Street Elevation – section 2 (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 52: North Commercial Street Elevation – section 3 (source by author) 
 
Figure 53: South Commercial Street Elevation (source by author) 
 
43 
 
 
 
Complete Streets 
 A complete street is essential to creating a pedestrian-oriented experience in 
the city. This type of street is broken down into four main guiding principles that 
outline the design and composition of these streets. First, the design of sidewalks 
provides safety for pedestrians; creating separate but similar zones for these 
pedestrians and vehicles. Second, these streets apply traffic calming measures like 
incorporating traffic-slowing pavers to create a comfortable atmosphere in the city. 
Third, there are accommodations for bikers in the city to extend existing surrounding 
bike paths into the city; incorporating bike lanes as part of the street design. Last, 
there are public transportation accommodations that are introduced to promote this 
form of transportation, moving away from the dependency on the automobile in the 
city. Overall, the concept of the complete street design is important to incorporate 
into the proposed master plan design for Portland. 
44 
 
 
 
 
Figure 54: Congress Street Section Perspective (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 55: Wharf Street Section Perspective (source by author) 
45 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 56: Spring Street Section Perspective (source by author) 
 
Figure 57: Commercial Street Section Perspective (source by author) 
 
 
 
46 
 
 
 
Economic 
New Developments 
Within Portland, there are many major developments that have been occurring 
since 2015. As the city becomes more prosperous and more young adults and single 
people realize the potential of living in Portland, there is a population growth that is 
occurring in Portland. Much of the development that is shown is aimed towards 
middle and low-income earners that have difficulty finding housing because of the 
current lack of housing in the city. Two of the biggest projects of the city are Rufus 
Deering Phase 1 and 58 Fore Street; both located along Commercial Street and the 
wharves.  
While they may not be under construction yet, it is still important to take into 
account the large unit count and the high population increase potential. 58 Fore Street 
is a redevelopment project of a 6-block neighborhood that will include housing, 
shops, restaurants, hotel rooms and a marina. It is estimated that there will be around 
638 rental and ownership housing and 132 hotel rooms within the project. This 
project will begin to address the increase need for housing in the downtown Portland 
area. 
Rufus Deering Phase 1 is a redevelopment project that will include replacing 
the recently closed down lumberyard located along the west end of Commercial 
Street with approximately 300 units of housing located close to the waterfront. This 
project is part of the movement of establishing a connection between the West End of 
Portland and the Old Port district. This housing project will address a wide range of 
buyers from the low-end of $200,000 to high-end buyers of $1 million. These two 
47 
 
 
 
projects are just part of a larger string of housing developments that are appearing 
around the downtown area of Portland, Maine. Overall, the recent housing 
developments of downtown Portland, Maine is a reflection on the flourishing local 
economy and sets a standard for the years to come. 
 
Figure 58: Income levels of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
48 
 
 
 
 
Figure 59: Location of new developments in Portland (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 60: Unit count of new developments in Portland (source by portlandmaine.gov) 
 
49 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 61: Zoning of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
50 
 
 
 
Chapter 4: Adapting to the Future 
Urban Farming 
“The world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, 33% more 
people than are on the planet today, according to projections from the United 
Nations. About two-thirds of them are expected to live in cities, continuing a 
migration that has been underway around the world for years.” 
 
  -Betsy McKay, Wall Street Journal 
 
As urban populations continue to grows around the world, pressure is placed 
on providing stable food supply levels to these people. Many city centers are located 
hundreds and thousands of miles away from farms, negatively affecting the 
environment through transportation.41 New methods of food and agriculture growth 
must be implemented to locally supply urban environments. There has been a recent 
growth of interest in urban farming techniques because of the impact it has on the 
people. Not only does it affect the food supply, but urban farming has social/ 
economic and health benefits on the cities. This section will focus on techniques of 
urban farming in the city as a way of redefining a sense of community. 
Influences and Benefits 
Introducing urban farming can benefit and diversify the local community. 
There are social and economic benefits urban farming addresses to improve of the 
community. Local urban gardens provide people with a place of interaction and to 
hone skills in the gardens. There are also health benefits urban farming can introduce 
                                                
41 McKay, Betsy. “A Farm Grows in the City.” Wall Street Journal (May 17, 2017): 1–6. 
 
51 
 
 
 
to cities with the food being grown and distributed within the city limits. These cities 
become environmentally conscious with the elimination of the need for transporting 
the food from outside the city. Many cities currently rely on fossil-fuel forms of 
transportation that contribute to the current global climate change issues.42 By 
introducing urban farming techniques into the cities, people in the cities are more 
likely to bring awareness to sustainability. 
 
Case Study: GrowUp Box London 
In London, GrowUp Farms is committed to providing healthy and affordable 
food choices to the people through environmentally-conscious concepts. This urban 
farm produces organic products through aquaponics and vertical growing 
technologies.43 The growing techniques used to reflect contemporary ideas of urban 
farming that can be applied to proposed urban farming techniques in Portland, Maine. 
 
Figure 62: The GrowUp Box (source by GrowUp Community Farms) 
                                                
42 Zbigniew W. Paszkowski. and Jakub I. Golebiewski, “The Renewable Energy City 
within the City. The Climate Change Oriented Urban Design.” Science Direct (2017): 
423. 
43 “Our Business Values,” GrowUp Urban Farms, http://growup.org.uk/our-business-
values/ (accessed November 24, 2017) 
 
52 
 
 
 
The aquaponics and vertical growing techniques used in GrowUp Farms displays an 
efficient closed loop system between natural processes, marine culture and 
agriculture. These systems are placed in either an industrial warehouse or in used 
shipping containers located on the rooftop. As illustrated in figure 63, a typical 
growing unit consists of the shipping container with the fish farm as the base and a 
modular greenhouse unit above where the growing beds are located. The nutrient-rich 
water from the fish tanks is pumped upwards to the growing beds in the greenhouse 
component of the unit, fed to the roots of the plants to fertilize them. The water is 
then purified and pumped back down to the fish tanks.44  By growing vertically in the 
city, vertical farming is located close to the consumers, eliminating transportation 
costs and carbon-dioxide emissions that are produced when transporting food.45 
GrowUp Community Farms is an example of sustainable urban farming that creates 
an efficient closed loop of producing food through natural processes. 
 
Figure 63: GrowUp Farms Growing Process (source by GrowUp Community Farms) 
                                                
44 “GrowUp Community Farms – GrowUp Community Farms,” Growup Urban 
Farms, http://www.growup.community/ (accessed November 24, 2107) 
45 “Unit 84,” GrowUp Urban Farms, http://growup.org.uk/growup-urban-farms/ 
(accessed November 22, 2017) 
53 
 
 
 
 
Figure 64: GrowUp Community Farm industrial warehouse growing space (source by GrowUp 
Community Farms) 
Renewable Energy 
“To be sustainable, cities must themselves, or in the resources that they 
command, become low-carbon, resilient, and livable.” 
 
  -Simon Joss, Governing for Urban Innovation 
 
City-integrated sustainability and renewable energy resources is an effective 
approach to an environmental issue. 75% of the power consumed around the world is 
within cities.46 Many cities today are not prepared for adapting to climate change and 
incorporating sustainable energy-saving techniques into existing building systems. 
Portland contains many potential layers of energy generation through local natural 
energy sources. These forms of energy generation can be introduced and integrated 
into Portland as a model for future developments. These systems include renewable 
energy in future building forms and regional sustainable master planning techniques.  
 
 
Sustainable Master Planning Techniques 
 Sustainable master planning techniques is formed by layers of natural and 
built systems that come together to form a harmonious balance. The principles of 
                                                
46 Daniel M. Kammen and Deborah A. Sunter. “City-Integrated Renewable Energy for 
Urban Sustainability.” Science, no. 6288 (2016): 922. 
 
54 
 
 
 
approach for master planning include connectivity of neighborhoods and responding 
to indigenous urban context and introducing built and natural landscapes that are long 
life, loose fit oriented.47 There are three spheres of focus in sustainable master 
planning that include the community, the economy and the environment of the city to 
be solved simultaneously.48 This section will focus on how these three spheres are 
approached in sustainable master planning. 
 
Figure 65: Components of Sustainable Urban Design (source by author) 
 
The community requires making safe and walkable places for people that 
form practical relationships with streets and vehicles. A sustainable community is 
defined by places where people want to live and to work now and in the future, 
environmentally conscious and promotes a high quality of life.49 Effective community 
designs have the ability to promote local historical attributes, contain effective 
                                                
47 Daniel Williams, Sustainable Design: Ecology, Architecture, and Planning 
(Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2007), 14. 
48 Williams, 14. 
49 Paul Appleby (Integrated Sustainable Design of Buildings. London: Earthscan, 
2011), 185. 
 
55 
 
 
 
developments, and develop within the existing city pattern.50 Parkways and 
waterways can bring safety to city. Identifying and designing these parkways forms 
open and dynamic public spaces. They introduce celebrated sidewalks, bike lanes and 
narrower streets. Creating a safe relationship between pedestrians and vehicles is 
important to creating a community in the city. 
 The economic value of incorporating sustainable master planning techniques 
into the city is based on the place itself. “As much as people follow jobs, businesses 
follow people to take advantage of local markets for skilled labor and consumer 
dollars – the place in itself is a value.”51 Part of the master planning mission is 
providing revenue generating-based functions in the design as part of attracting 
additional visitors to the site. Portland, Maine is a popular destination of tourists and 
prides itself in local businesses and restaurants. Incorporating mixed-use building 
program to generate tourist visitation year-round, support local events and provide a 
range of housing options will benefit the city greatly in the future. In order for 
sustainable master planning to be realistic, the economic value must be ideal to 
support the proposed buildings. 
 The third sphere, the environment, is crucial to forming master planning 
techniques that are sustainable. Future master plans of cities should include a 
progression towards reintegration of natural-system functions, creation of better 
flood-control systems and water-recharge areas that integrate storm water 
                                                
50 Daniel Williams, Sustainable Design: Ecology, Architecture, and Planning 
(Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2007), 96. 
51 Daniel Williams, Sustainable Design: Ecology, Architecture, and Planning 
(Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2007), 93. 
56 
 
 
 
management. These plans must respond to sun, water, topography, wind, climate and 
flood zones.52 Replacing hardscape in the city with permeable surfaces will eliminate 
the heat island effects and storm-water runoff in the city.53 The localized collection of 
water to re-use it through water treatment plants has the benefit of air cooling and 
cleaning the air within urban environments.54 Including the environment as one of the 
spheres of master planning will create a more effective city plan for the future of 
Portland. 
Renewable Energy in the Building 
Incorporating sustainable techniques of renewable energy into the urban 
building design consists of layers of functioning systems that work together in an 
effective and efficient way. The architecture becomes a form of place-based design 
that integrates and connects the natural characteristics of the relative site with the 
systems of the building.55 The layers of the building that relate to the sustainability 
include the building layers, configuration of interior spaces and building integrated 
renewable energy.  
                                                
52 Paul Appleby (Integrated Sustainable Design of Buildings. London: Earthscan, 
2011), 89-91. 
53 Ester Charlesworth and Rob Adams (The EcoEdge: Urgent Design Challenges in 
Building Sustainable Cities. New York: Routledge, 2011), 12. 
54 Charlesworth, 12. 
55 Daniel Williams, Sustainable Design: Ecology, Architecture, and Planning 
(Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2007), 105. 
57 
 
 
 
 
Figure 66: Components of Sustainable Urban Community (source by author) 
Figure 67: Components of Sustainable Building Design (source by author) 
 
The building layers are composed of the building skin and the structure. The 
building skin should act as a natural form that creates a balance between interior and 
exterior. The components of building layers; floor, wall and ceiling, coexist to form a 
building skin that can breathe, let water out, cool by evaporation and protect from 
moisture and the cold.56 Forces on the building wall system includes contraction, 
expansion, heat, cold, moisture, rain, sleet, snow, wind, ultraviolet light, humidity and 
sunlight.57 The building skin must complement the local natural resources and work 
with all other systems of the building. The structure of coastal city building design 
includes orientation and location of these structures based on prevailing wind forces. 
Structures achieve effectiveness based on working with wind forces. An example is 
the composition of a palm tree and how the flexibility of it allows it to survive after a 
                                                
56 Ester Charlesworth and Rob Adams (The EcoEdge: Urgent Design Challenges in 
Building Sustainable Cities. New York: Routledge, 2011), 117. 
57 Charlesworth, 119. 
58 
 
 
 
hurricane.58 The building skin and structure work together to achieve functional 
layers of sustainable building design.  
Configurations of interior spaces is based on the building skin, structural 
systems and context. Effective interior spaces address types of programmatic spaces, 
sunlight directionality and green materials. Interior spaces has the opportunity to 
connect occupants with natural light through bouncing, enhancing and filtering 
sunlight into spaces.59 Introducing natural ventilation and open interactive work 
spaces decreases space requirements and create a more efficient design. Green 
materials include using local materials that eliminate large transportation costs. 
Addressing components of interior spaces is key to sustainable building design. 
Renewable Energy in the Building 
The concept of sustainable building design addresses regional sustainable 
tactics and applies similar techniques at a smaller scale within the building. Malmo, a 
city in southern Sweden, contains a sustainable waterfront urban development. The 
plan creates a gateway into the city and a series of requirements for the sustainable 
development. Located along the industrial docks, the project displays a balance 
between urban and green spaces and will receive 100% of its energy from renewable 
sources like wind turbines, heat pumps, solar collectors and urban waste.60 Urban 
waste from occupants is collected by a twin pipe vacuum tube collection network, one 
                                                
58 Ester Charlesworth and Rob Adams (The EcoEdge: Urgent Design Challenges in 
Building Sustainable Cities. New York: Routledge, 2011), 112. 
59 Charlesworth, 127. 
60 Peter F. Smith (Sustainability at the Cutting Edge. Oxford: Architectural Press, 
2003), 141. 
59 
 
 
 
tube for food and one for residual waste that are converted into biogas and filtered 
back to the residential spaces of the development.61 Technology is incorporated into 
the design by implementing a communication network of information that provides 
residents with energy usage levels and local public transportation times.62 Overall, the 
waterfront sustainable development in Malmo is a strong example of urban integrated 
renewable energy. 
 
Adapting Waterfront Technologies: Rising Sea Levels 
“There are inherit risks to living and working on the coast, from rare and 
infrequent events such as hurricanes, to everyday hazards such as erosion and 
waves.” 
  
 -Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies  
Coastal Components and Hazards 
 The edge conditions of waterfront cities rely on natural components of oceans 
and harbors. There are forces that determine how the city is organized and how it is 
placed and oriented in the local geography. The components of natural conditions that 
affect the waterfront edge range from small-scale tide conditions to large-scale 
hurricane events that drastically alter the city. This section will focus on these small-
scale and large-scale conditions that directly affect the city’s planning techniques 
 Small-scale conditions of the waterfront include tides, currents, waves and 
erosion. Tides are fluctuations of daily sea levels that change heights in the water at 
                                                
61 Peter F. Smith (Sustainability at the Cutting Edge. Oxford: Architectural Press, 
2003), 143. 
62  Smith, 144. 
60 
 
 
 
certain times of the day.63 The currents of the water is represented as the movement of 
water based on the relationship between tides and waves. Waves are represented as 
the oscillation movement of a water’s surface that has a wide scale of oscillation 
levels. Erosion is mainly a negative long-term effect of the force of waves and 
currents on the land that is worn away over time.64 Sometimes this erosion is a short-
term reaction as a result of natural waterfront disasters. Small-scale conditions and 
reactions of the water along the city’s edge form an influence on how the city 
planning is shaped. 
 Large-scale conditions of the water along the edge are hurricanes, tropical 
storms, nor’easters and storm surges. Hurricanes have wind speeds of 74 miles per 
hour or higher while tropical storms have wind speeds that are between 39 to 73 
miles. Nor’easters affect Mid-Atlantic states and New England states and composed 
of a low pressure system that creates strong winds, heavy snow and rain and large 
waves along the coastal edge. Together with hurricanes and nor’easters, these natural 
disasters can create storm surges that raise water levels above the average sea level 
and moves inland to cause flooding along coastal cities and towns.65 Addressing the 
large-scale conditions of the water regionally is crucial to understanding how the city 
can be organized in relation to the forms of water.   
                                                
63 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies,” 
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans-studies/sustainable-
communities/climate-resilience/urban_waterfront.pdf (accessed November 12, 2017). 
64 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies.” 
65 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies.” 
61 
 
 
 
Adaptive Urban Waterfront Strategies 
 Adaptive urban waterfront strategies respond to water conditions and hazards 
with long-term resilient solutions for infrastructure systems and buildings. These 
strategies are broken down into an evaluative process that focuses on site and water 
reach. The goal of this comprehensive process is to existing city conditions to move 
forward and adapt to the long-term effects of rising sea levels and natural disasters. 
The site is about forming a flexible relationship between site context, building 
form and water. There is a focus on how the different building systems are created to 
protect occupants against flooding conditions. These systems are broken down into 
elevated systems, stationary systems and flexible systems. Elevated systems can be 
applied to both existing and proposed building forms. The advantage of incorporating 
this system is the ability to allow water to move freely under the building without 
obstructing it. Fixed systems provides a permanent barrier around the base perimeter 
of the building to protect against water loads and infiltration. Dry flood-proofing 
involves exterior wall systems that incorporate waterproofing, impermeable 
membranes, aquarium glass and layers of concrete or masonry as part of the system.66 
Site protection systems is composed of adjustable bulkheads or natural berms built 
around the building, separate from the perimeter of the building.67 This system could 
be effective but the building is still located within the flood zone. Flexible systems 
                                                
66 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies,” 
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans-studies/sustainable-
communities/climate-resilience/urban_waterfront.pdf (accessed November 12, 2017). 
67 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies.” 
62 
 
 
 
are building forms that move with tide levels and storm surges and represented by 
floating structures and amphibious structures.68 Amphibious structures are distinct 
from floating structures because they are placed on dry land with a buoyant 
foundation that allows the building to raise during flooding events.69 An advantage of 
introducing flexible systems into building design is the resilience against flooding 
contained by these structures. These forms of adaptive urban building designs are 
further protected by adaptive water reach systems that are applied in a regional 
context. 
 
Figure 68: Elevated Building Approach (source by author) 
 
Figure 69: Fixed Building Approach (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 70: Flexible Building Approach (source by author) 
                                                
68 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies,” 
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans-studies/sustainable-
communities/climate-resilience/urban_waterfront.pdf (accessed November 12, 2017). 
69 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies.” 
63 
 
 
 
 
The water reach is about providing protection from catastrophic natural events 
through forms of barrier systems for waterfront cities.  Water reach is broken down 
into three distinct categories; upland, shoreline and in-water approaches.70 The upland 
approach is about relocating or planning building sites above the flood zone levels. 
that range from floodwalls to waterfront parks.71 Shoreline strategies of water reach is 
about creating an interactive shoreline context that integrates bulkheads, seawalls, 
multi-purpose levels or coastal vegetation into the sustainable urban design.72 The 
advantage of doing this is the potential of creating public spaces for visitors to 
experience and find a closer connection to natural form. In-water strategies are 
focused on integrating natural barriers within the flood zone that filters water through 
the water reach is important to urban design as a component for protecting building 
systems and its occupants. 
 
Figure 71: Inland Edge Approach (source by Department of City Planning: City Of New York) 
                                                
70 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies,” 
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans-studies/sustainable-
communities/climate-resilience/urban_waterfront.pdf (accessed November 12, 2017). 
71 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies.” 
72 Department of City Planning: City Of New York, “Coastal Climate Resilience: 
Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies.” 
64 
 
 
 
 
Figure 72: Shoreline Edge Approach (source by Department of City Planning: City Of New York) 
 
 Overall, there are many different layers of sustainability in design, ranging 
from an urban scale to the individual rooms of building design. Addressing the 
current issue of climate change and reacting to the inevitable change that is occurring 
in the environment is crucial to waterfront cities like Portland adapting to the future to 
preserve the livability of the city, provide more environmentally-friendly modes of 
transportation and introducing effective techniques like urban farming. Responding to 
this important topic of architecture and sustainability will create an reimagined and 
timeless urban and building design for Portland’s waterfront. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
65 
 
 
 
Chapter 5:  Understanding the Waterfront City Typologies 
 
New England Waterfront Cities: Portsmouth, New Hampshire 
Connection to City 
 The connection to the city in Portsmouth, New Hampshire from the waterfront 
is reflected by two primary streets that service the waterfront edge and creates a 
transitional zone into the small New England city. 
 
Figure 73: Portsmouth, NH: Connection to City (source by author) 
 
Waterfront Program 
 The program along the waterfront is contained within historical buildings with 
linear nodes of retail spaces closer to the water for an intimate connection with the 
natural environment of the water.   
66 
 
 
 
 
Figure 74: Portsmouth, NH: Waterfront Program (source by author) 
 
Hot Spots and Views 
 The hot spots of Portsmouth waterfront are represented by large green spaces 
and a performing arts center that provide opportunities to bring people closer to the 
waterfront.  
 
Figure 75: Portsmouth, NH: Hot Spots and Views (source by author) 
 
 
European Waterfront Cities: Oslo, Norway 
Connection to City 
 Oslo, Norway has an organized connection to the city with four primary 
streets that lays out the regular grid system that organizes the city blocks as a 
67 
 
 
 
transition from the transparency of the water front to the dense environment of the 
city. 
 
Figure 76: Oslo, Norway: Connection to the City (source by author) 
 
Waterfront Program 
 The important program space that celebrates the waterfront is the Oslo Opera 
House that addresses views to the water, interaction of people, and response to the 
surrounding city environment.  
 
Figure 77: Oslo, Norway: Waterfront Program (source by author) 
68 
 
 
 
Hot Spots and Views 
 The hot spots and views are organized to be situated from public gathering 
spaces and private waterfront residential areas. The waterfront edge buildings are 
organized to take advantage of the water and strategically placed to respond to the 
important views of the water. 
 
Figure 78: Oslo, Norway Hot Spots and Nodes (source by author) 
European Waterfront Cities: Helsinki, Finland 
Connection to City 
 The organization of the city’s waterfront edge and the connection to the 
central city zones is very regularized and respond to manipulating the grid systems to 
the natural edges of the water and transition back to the regular city grid. 
69 
 
 
 
 
Figure 79: Helsinki, Finland: Connection to the City (source by author) 
Waterfront Program 
The program surrounding the waterfront consists mostly of mixed use 
functions situated along grand gathering spaces that provide a linear and organized 
connection inwards toward the city. 
 
Figure 80: Helsinki, Finland: Waterfront Program (source by author) 
 
Hot Spots and Views 
 The hot spots and views of Helsinki’s waterfront is organized around 
rationalized civic spaces that interlock with the city fabric to create a more rich 
connection with the waterfront and maintain a transparent edge along the waterfront 
70 
 
 
 
to illustrate a fine balance between the city environment and the natural environment 
of the water. 
 
Figure 81: Helsinki, Finland: Hot Spots and Views (source by author) 
 
 
Reconnecting the City’s Waterfront Edge: Philadelphia, PA 
Connection to City 
 Philadelphia’s waterfront is currently going through a revitalization to 
reconnect the waterfront to the city after it was disconnected due to the construction 
of Interstate 95 in the late 1900s during urban renewal. The revitalization is focused 
on introducing green spaces that will bridge over the interstate and bridge a 
connection between the city and the waterfront. 
71 
 
 
 
 
Figure 82: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Connection to the City (source by author) 
 
Waterfront Program 
 The waterfront program that is seen along the waterfront is an extension of the 
center city of Philadelphia with the storefronts and upscale residential developments 
that are developing on the wharves. The Penn’s Landing is project is crucial to 
revitalizing the city with the introduction of civic spaces and new public buildings 
that will connect with these proposed civic spaces. 
 
Figure 83: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Waterfront Program (source by author) 
 
72 
 
 
 
Hot Spots and Views 
 The urban edge of the city along the waterfront is very clearly defined and 
provides a harmonious balance between density and transparency and retains the 
transparency as a way of celebrating the views along the Delaware River and bringing 
the public towards the water. 
 
Figure 84: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hot Spots and Views (source by author) 
 
 
73 
 
 
 
Chapter 6:  The Cultural Market Hall: Celebrating Local Foods 
 
Quincy Market: Boston, Massachusetts 
 
Figure 85: Quincy Market (source by Wikipedia) 
Program 
 Quincy Market is a example of a market hall that celebrates the market hall 
space as a central programmatic space. Connected by a central public space, there 
were additional wings added along the sides of the market to create a multi-functional 
market hall that invites more visitors to this urban space of downtown Boston. 
 
 
Figure 86: Quincy Market Program Plan Diagram (source by author) 
74 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 87: Quincy Market Program Section Diagram (source by author) 
 
 
Union Market: Washington D.C. 
 
 
Figure 88: Union Market (source by Flickr) 
 
Program 
 Union Market is an example of a simple plan that designates the market as a 
central focus with individual vendors that populate the hall and permanent spaces like 
a restaurant and deli that work with the market hall to create a diverse experience for 
visitors. 
 
75 
 
 
 
 
Figure 89: Union Market program diagram (source by author) 
 
Boston Public Market: Boston, Massachusetts 
 
Figure 90: Boston Public Market (source by Archdaily) 
 
Program 
 The Boston Public Market is an example of a market space contained within a 
multi-functional urban building. The market occupies the first floor of the building, 
closely connected with the public along the sidewalk and providing multiple market 
spaces on the same floor that is connected by a central market “hub.” There is 
teaching kitchen that is serviced by the market and offers people the opportunity to 
learn how to create dishes from local food sources.  
76 
 
 
 
 
Figure 91: Boston Public Market program plan diagram (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 92: Boston Public Market program section diagram (source by author) 
 
Bergen Fish Market 
 
Figure 93: Bergen Fish Market, (source by Archdaily) 
77 
 
 
 
Program 
 The fish market at Bergen is a contemporary example of a waterfront market 
space that reacts effectively to the surrounding historical context. The building 
responds to the transparency of the water, the surrounding existing civic spaces and 
providing additional programmatic functions that allows for a more diverse market 
hall for the city of Bergen. 
 
Figure 93: Bergen Fish Market program plan diagram (source by author) 
 
 
 
Figure 94: Bergen Fish Market program section diagram (source by author) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
78 
 
 
 
Chapter 7:  Concept Explorations: Master Planning and Market 
Portland Waterfront Master Planning Concept Explorations 
 
 
Figure 95: Master plan scheme 1: Conservative approach (source by author) 
 
 
 
Figure 96: Master plan scheme 2: Moderate approach (source by author) 
 
 
 
79 
 
 
 
 
Figure 97: Master plan scheme 3: Radical approach (source by author) 
 
Portland Waterfront Market Hall Concept Explorations 
Cultural Market Hall: Programmatic Spaces 
 
Figure 98: Area Tabulation chart of a cultural market hall (source by author) 
 
80 
 
 
 
 
Figure 99: Market Hall Scheme 1: Response to the Wharves (source by author) 
 
 
 
 
Figure 100: Market Hall Scheme 2: Response to the wharves (source by author) 
 
Figure 101: Market Hall Scheme 3: Response to the wharves and the city (source by author) 
 
 
81 
 
 
 
 
Figure 102: Market Hall Scheme 4: Response to the wharves and the city (source by author) 
 
Figure 103: Market Hall Scheme 5: Response to the city (source by author) 
 
Figure 104: Market Hall Scheme 6: Response to the city (source by author) 
 
 
82 
 
 
 
Chapter 8:  Final Design and Conclusions 
 
Final Design Outcome 
In order to address the reconnect of the city, the solution is based around 
revitalizing Center Street as a pedestrian-oriented street. Center Street contains two 
contrasting environments, with the Time and Temperature Building terminating the 
northern end of the axis and the Portland Fish Exchange terminating the southern end 
of the Center Street axis. As a result of a series of concept explorations that dealt with 
the relationship between the public and the working waterfront, a clear parti was 
established that blurred the boundaries between these two groups and created  
 
 
Figure 105: Community Gateway parti (source by author) 
83 
 
 
 
 
celebrated connections. This parti formed what is known as the waterfront community 
gateway for Portland. Three types of relevant users were introduced to address the 
programmatic needs for this community gateway, these users included; the locals, the 
visitors and the fishermen. The synergy between these types of users creates the 
community gateway into what is known as the Center Street Wharf Market. This 
market space not only addresses the spaces within this community gateway design, 
 
Figure 106: Synergy of user types and programmatic spaces (source by author) 
but it addresses urban issues along the existing Center Street. The proposed master 
plan in this thesis is about introducing more mixed-use buildings that connect the 
surrounding residential neighborhoods  
 
Figure 107: Before and after site plan of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
84 
 
 
 
with the downtown area and addresses the ineffective void in the city. The proposed 
 
Figure 108: Proposed site plan of downtown Portland (source by author) 
 
Figure 109: Proposed site section of Center Street (source by author) 
Urban design for Center Street incorporates cobblestone paving in to protect the 
safety of the pedestrians and introduces vegetation as a way of controlling storm 
water runoff. 
 
85 
 
 
 
 
Figure 110: Aerial view of proposed downtown and community gateway master plan (source by 
author) 
 
Figure 111: Center Street view up to the Time and Temperature building (source by author) 
86 
 
 
 
 
Figure 112: Center Street view down to Center Street Wharf Market (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 113: View of Center Street Market from Commercial Street (source by author) 
 
87 
 
 
 
 
Figure 114: Water Steps (source by author) 
 
 
88 
 
 
 
 
Figure 114: Pedestrian Street (source by author) 
 
Figure 115: Waterfront urban space – farmer’s market (source by author) 
89 
 
 
 
  
Figure 116: Waterfront urban space –summertime concert event (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 117: Waterfront urban space –fireworks event (source by author) 
 
 
 
Figure 118: Market Hall view (source by author) 
90 
 
 
 
 
Figure 119: Upper Market Hall view (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 120: Harbor Pavilion view (source by author) 
 
91 
 
 
 
 
Figure 121: Portland Fish Exchange approach (source by author) 
 
 
Figure 122: Portland Fish Exchange prepare space view (source by author) 
 
92 
 
 
 
 
Figure 123: Portland Fish Exchange auction space view (source by author) 
 
Conclusions 
 
This thesis explores the current disconnect between the city and the working 
waterfront forms interactive connections between the city context and the wharf 
context to create a linear experience along the proposed revitalized Center Street. 
This approach merges the city environment with the local wharf environment to 
eliminate the existing disconnect and create a celebrated connection between the 
locals, the visitors and the fishermen of Portland. This thesis strives to reimagine the 
existing Portland Fish Exchange structure and reform the open program spaces to link 
with a waterfront market hall that invites the public to enjoy the local fresh seafood 
brought in by fishermen and immerse themselves in the environment of the working 
waterfront. By creating a sequence of experiences down to the harbor from the central 
downtown area, this design thesis is reimagining the wharves of a small waterfront 
93 
 
 
 
city and incorporating the environment of Portland into the experience for the people. 
Overall, this thesis accomplishes the design challenges of overcoming the disconnect 
that was formed over time between the city and the working waterfront and re-
establish the significance of the industry’s role in supporting the city and creates 
interactive experiences for the locals, the visitors and the fishermen of Portland, 
Maine. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
94 
 
 
 
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