[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 140 (Thursday, October 1, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            RECOGNIZING SMRT

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, on Thursday, October 8, citizens of 
the city of Portland will gather at the steps of City Hall to witness 
the proclamation of John Calvin Stevens Day on the 154th anniversary of 
his birth. The most renowned architect in Maine's history, Mr. Stevens' 
distinctive style is recognizable in numerous structures throughout the 
region. Today, I rise to acknowledge the company he founded, now known 
as SMRT, as we celebrate the 125th anniversary of its founding.
  SMRT's founder, John Calvin Stevens, was born in Boston in 1855, and 
moved with his family to Portland 2 years later. On July 4, 1866, Mr. 
Stevens witnessed the devastating Great Fire of Portland, which was 
responsible for 1,800 buildings burning to the ground, as well as the 
subsequent reconstruction of the city. After completing high school, he 
joined Francis H. Fassett's architectural firm, which did much of the 
work to rebuild the city in the fire's aftermath.
  Following a decade at the Fassett firm, Mr. Stevens founded his own 
one-man architectural firm, John Calvin Stevens Architects, in 1884 in 
Portland. Mr. Stevens ran this business until his death in 1940, during 
which time he received over 300 commissions to design or update a 
variety of structures on the Portland peninsula alone, from government 
buildings to churches to residential houses. The Stevens family remains 
involved in the company's day-to-day operations, as Mr. Stevens' great-
grandson, Paul Stratton Stevens, is one of the company's principals.
  Above all other techniques, John Calvin Stevens is known as a pioneer 
and promoter of the quintessentially New England ``shingle'' style. 
Most often associated with the Maine coast and the Boston area, the 
practice is essentially an adaptation of the Victorian-era Queen Anne 
architectural style with the additional of shingles. The cottage-like 
houses built in the style frequently feature wide porches, broad 
gables, graceful and distinct profiles, and, of course, wooden shingles 
lining the roofs and sides. Because of Mr. Stevens' diligent efforts, 
this style became a mainstay of seaside and residential homes across 
the region.
  As the continuation of Mr. Stevens' multidisciplinary brainchild, 
SMRT--previously known as Stevens Morton Rose & Thompson to represent 
the last names of the company's partners--is a widely recognized expert 
in the areas of architecture, engineering, planning, and interior 
design. SMRT designs and constructs functional spaces and aesthetically 
pleasing edifices for its plentiful clientele. The company now has 
additional offices in Manchester, NH; North Andover, MA; and Albany, 
NY.
  Throughout its lengthy history, SMRT has been responsible for 
designing, building, altering, or restoring countless landmark 
buildings across the State of Maine. SMRT lent its architectural 
talents to the new Dorothy Walker Bush Pavilion at Southern Maine 
Medical Center in Biddeford, as well as the Eastern Maine Medical 
Center pediatrics wing in Bangor. The company has also had a hand in a 
diverse range of interior design projects at Bowdoin College in 
Brunswick, Fairchild Semiconductor in Portland, and the Burton M. Cross 
State Office Building in the State capital of Augusta. Additionally, 
the firm has completed projects for other companies in a variety of 
industries, including: bioscience and healthcare, food and beverage, as 
well as clean manufacturing and electronics.
  One area where SMRT has distinguished itself is in green design, 
particularly as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, which 
oversees the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, 
accreditation process. The LEED, green building certification system 
aims to provide energy savings through building design that reduces 
carbon dioxide emissions and improves overall indoor environmental 
quality. SMRT offers its clients the opportunity to engage in the LEED 
certification process, and consistently keeps energy concerns at the 
forefront when planning new buildings by utilizing natural daylight and 
employing cutting-edge technologies. In fact, the Maine General Medical 
Center's Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta, which was 
designed by SMRT, recently received a LEED silver certification, and is 
the first health care facility in Maine to achieve the status.
  In short, John Calvin Stevens is responsible for much of the way 
Portland looks today--from the Old Port to the houses of the Western 
Promenade--and his legacy is carried on today in the company he 
founded, SMRT, and the intricate and stunning work they do. I am proud 
that John Calvin Stevens saw it fitting to choose Portland for his 
company's home 125 years ago, and I am delighted that it has remained a 
bedrock of our State's architectural heritage through all of these 
years. Congratulations to everyone at SMRT on this monumental 
anniversary, and best wishes for continued success. 

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