In Rockland, artists now have an innovative, creative space to live and work
Ellis‑Beauregard Foundation Opens New Net‑Zero Campus in Rockland
Rockland, Maine – On June 12, 2026, the Ellis‑Beauregard Foundation unveiled a pair of brand‑new, net‑zero‑energy buildings that will house four visiting artists, a performance‑exhibition hall, and the organization’s administrative offices. The project, built by Mussel Ridge Builders, cost about $6.2 million and is part of a five‑year effort to make the historic home of founders Joan Beauregard and David Ellis a hub for contemporary art and sustainable design.
A New Home for Artists
The two new structures sit beside the original Ellis‑Beauregard house, which now serves as the foundation’s offices and archives. The first building provides studios and living quarters for four artists who will spend up to a year in residence. Each studio receives generous natural light through north‑facing skylights and clerestory windows, and the building’s high ceilings echo the “loft living” style that the original founders once inhabited in New York.
The second building is a versatile exhibition and performance space. With a sprung floor for dance, a flexible gallery wall, and a screening area for film, it can host everything from visual art displays to theatrical productions. The space is designed to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, a core philosophy of the foundation.
Sustainable Architecture
Sustainability was a central design goal. The buildings incorporate a green roof that collects rainwater, reducing runoff into the harbor. Solar panels on the south façade supply electricity for heat pumps that produce radiant heat for the studios, allowing artists to keep warm in bare feet. The foundation received a $100 000 grant from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation to fund these pioneering systems, making the campus the first of its kind in Maine to combine solar power, radiant heating, and a rainwater‑retention roof.
“The goal was to create a neutral backdrop for art,” said architect Matthew Baird. “You want the architecture to be utilitarian, to find beauty in its function, so artists can focus on their work without architectural distractions.”
The Role of Community and Conversation
Baird credits part of the campus’s success to the foundation’s long‑standing tradition of informal gatherings. Every Thursday, the design team, trustees, and local art leaders would meet at 4 p.m.; at 5:30 p.m., Executive Director Donna McNeil would invite everyone to her house for dinner. “Those conversations meant that by the time we got halfway through the design, we had a deep understanding of the local community and what mattered to them,” Baird recalled.
McNeil, who returned from retirement after leading the Maine Arts Commission, emphasizes the foundation’s unique ability to bring national artists into Rockland. “We provide a space that neither the Farnsworth nor the CMCA do,” she said. “We bring a national group of artists to engage in the conversation, and the community loves that outsider perspective.”
The foundation’s visiting‑artist program, reactivated in January 2026, has already seen alumni such as Reggie Burrows Hodges, painter Anne Buckwalter, and photographer Dylan Hausthor—artists who credit the residency with boosting their careers.
A Vision Realized
The campus’s design is intentionally subdued, avoiding bold architectural statements that might compete with the art it houses. Instead, the focus is on light, space, and sustainability, mirroring the “gritty loft living” aesthetic of the original founders’ New York lofts. The shared corridor, lined with translucent polycarbonate glazing, connects the studios to a communal dining and living area, fostering informal interaction among artists.
“The building is about making a neutral backdrop for art,” McNeil said. “And the informal setting—whether a dinner table or a local bar—helps break down barriers and sparks conversations.”
As the Ellis‑Beauregard Foundation opens its new campus, it not only expands its capacity to host visiting artists but also reinforces Rockland’s growing reputation as a vibrant arts destination. With its blend of thoughtful design, environmental responsibility, and community‑focused programming, the foundation sets a new standard for how art spaces can serve both creators and the broader public.
