When the existing United States Land Port of Entry (USLPOE) in Madawaska, Maine, originally built in 1959, could no longer meet modern needs and standards, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) enlisted the Design-Build team of Siegel and J&J Contractors to create a new facility. The Siegel team, having previously completed two other land ports of entry in Maine, eagerly took on the opportunity to build in Madawaska and provide a modernized facility for the GSA. Using bridging documents prepared by MPdL Studios, Siegel acted as the Architect of Record, overseeing site and building design, construction documents, construction administration, and FF&E for the project. 

Siegel balances bold innovation with a deep understanding of context, creating designs that connect people, purpose, and place. The firm has completed projects throughout the United States and in over 25 countries, providing master planning, architecture, and interior design expertise for academic, civic, and cultural facilities. The USLPOE in Madawaska joins Siegel’s impressive roster of public projects and land ports of entry including LEED Gold facilities in Calais, Maine and Van Buren, Maine.

The USLPOE in Madawaska supports the long-term safe and efficient flow of traffic, facilitating the movement of goods and people between Madawaska and Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada. Balancing form, function, and sustainability at the nation’s northern gateway, beyond its functional role, the building also serves as a symbolic representation of America as the first and last interaction with the country for those who travel through it. 

The USLPOE in Madawaska ensures smooth, intuitive movement for both vehicles and pedestrians entering and leaving the U.S. The 52,000-square-foot building, located on an 11-acre site, accommodates diverse functions, including administration, training, staff support, processing, enforcement, agricultural inspection, and general inspection. While adhering to GSA standards, the building is designed for optimal efficiency, including solutions such as a cantilevered primary inspection canopy to accommodate unforeseen wide loads. The ballistic-resilient building also features thick glass and a concrete plank exterior, ensuring durability and security, and has achieved SITES Silver and LEED Gold certifications. 

The USLPOE’s exterior adopts an industrial motif, blending with nearby plants and industrial structures through design elements such as its corrugated metal siding reminiscent of warehouses, creating a connection between the building and its environment. In contrast, the interior features extensive use of wood finishes and furnishings, a nod to the neighboring paper mill, instilling a warm, contemporary feel while further tying the building to its surroundings. As the paper mill has facilities on both sides of the river separating the U.S. and Canada, the USLPOE is located right in the middle of its operations. As a result, Siegel designed the USLPOE site—and construction phasing—to accommodate the regular movement of B-Train size trucks, allowing for the continuous operation of the mill during and after construction.

Faced with the harsh climate of Madawaska—where it is common to experience negative temperatures and snowfall reaches up to eight feet annually—the building is meticulously designed to endure the region's extreme temperatures and heavy snowfall. Informed by a snow drift analysis, the design takes into account snow accumulation, structural load considerations for snow weight, wind effects, and other factors to prevent snow from becoming a falling-object hazard. Ice buildup presented several challenges, from hazardous road conditions for trucks on the steeply sloped site to obscured lane signage. In response, the design team minimized slope steepness for safer travel and incorporated recessed canopies to prevent ice buildup on lane signage. All of these measures ensure functionality and safety despite the demanding climate and terrain.

Over the last few decades, the land port of entry program has aimed to balance security with hospitality, creating a welcoming gateway that reflects America’s identity to those arriving. At the USLPOE in Madawaska, Siegel successfully balanced the client’s functional requirements with a representational vision, creating a facility with increased efficiency and smoother operations that leaves a lasting impression of America.