A recent video from Maine College of Art (MECA) discusses the First Year Initiative program and highlights an art installation on a Wright-Ryan project. Wright-Ryan recently converted an existing three-story brick building at the corner of Cumberland Avenue and Preble Street in Portland into the new Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter. The building renovations required the removal of the existing first floor facade and construction of a temporary plywood enclosure. Wright-Ryan’s Commercial Small Projects Division Manager, Rob Barrett, collaborated with instructors at MECA to provide the enclosure as a blank canvas for a student art installation. Students in MECA’s First Year Initiative program created a large mural, comprised of panels supplied by Wright-Ryan. Each panel honors a different culture from the diverse community at the nearby Portland High School. MECA and its students donated all of the panels to Preble Street following the installation and select panels adorn the Shelter’s lobby and community room.

• Watch the video to learn more about MECA’s First Year Initiative Program and to see images of the art installation.
• Find out what Wright-Ryan is doing to support our community.
• Discover what is unique about Wright-Ryan’s Small Projects Division.