Longfellow Hotel

Project Scope

Haley Ward, Inc. provided MEP design services for the Longfellow Hotel, a boutique hotel located on a redeveloped site in Portland, Maine. Formerly a gas station, the site was completely cleared to make way for this new high-end hospitality project.

The project initially faced major setbacks when the original mechanical design, completed by another firm, proved to be significantly over budget and unfit for the building’s physical constraints. As a result, the original general contractor and mechanical contractor left the project. When a new general contractor took over, they brought in Damon Mechanical of Auburn to lead the design-build process—and Damon brought in Haley Ward to reimagine the MEP design.

Working closely with Damon Mechanical, our team developed a more efficient and cost-effective system centered around a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system paired with a dedicated outdoor air unit (DOAU) for ventilation. This approach used smaller, and fewer piping runs than the original concept and relied on more affordable equipment while delivering the performance the client needed.

Space constraints added another layer of complexity. With minimal ceiling cavity available, our engineers had to carefully coordinate routing and system components to fit within tight architectural limitations. We worked collaboratively with the architect to adjust duct sizing and added soffits where needed to allow for proper duct routing—all without compromising the aesthetic standards expected in a boutique hotel.

Despite these challenges, the redesigned mechanical system not only met all performance and aesthetic requirements but also brought the project back under budget. This effort highlights Haley Ward’s ability to adapt to evolving project needs and deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions under challenging conditions.

Market

• Commercial

Services

Project Data