New Employee Housing at Acadia: Harden Farm

Artistic drawing of the Harden Farm Development Plan

NPS photo, courtesy of VHB

Project Vision and Purpose

The National Park Service identified Harden Farm as a site for park employee housing in 1959. In the 1960s, the National Park Service constructed eight one-bedroom apartments as an initial phase of a larger residential development.

Thanks to funding from the National Park Service’s Housing Improvement and Centennial Challenge Programs, donations to Friends of Acadia’s $10 million Raise the Roof fundraising campaign, and a grant from the National Park Foundation, Acadia National Park can now build additional employee housing at Harden Farm.

In September 2024, the National Park Service awarded a nearly $10 million contract to complete Phase 1 of construction at Harden Farm. Phase 1 of the project will provide 28 bedrooms. An additional 28 bedrooms may be constructed if funding becomes available for Phase 2.

Illustration of Acadia National Park's new Harden Farm employee housing.

NPS photo, courtesy of VHB

Facts and figures

• Location: Kebo Street, Bar Harbor, Maine

• Building envelope: Approximately 4 acres

• Square footage of 8 bedroom buildings: 3,515 SF each

• Square footage of 6-plex one bedroom buildings: 3,164 SF each

• Total cost: $9.9 million

• Contractor: King Construction (Machias, Maine)

• Phase 2 of construction would provide an additional two 8-bedroom units and two 6-plex single bedroom apartments

• The full build-out of Harden Farm will provide a total of 56 bedrooms for Acadia National Park.

• All proposed exterior lighting will conform to Dark Sky standards.

Project Updates

October 2025 - Phase 1 apartment interiors near completion

Crews installed drywall and painted the apartment interiors. The interiors' fresh and finished walls move the phase 1 closer to completion, and makes it easier to imagine living in the Harden Farm apartments.

September 2025 - Phase 1 structures take shape

Teams installed the exterior of the structures, mechanical systems, heat pumps and siding. Interior insulation has been completed.

July 11 – Framing the future: buildings 3 & 4 rise through August

Crews have now started framing work on Buildings 3 and 4, including wall panel installation, roof truss placement, and roof sheathing. The team is assembling the structural walls and setting trusses to form the roof framework, followed by applying OSB panels to create a solid roof deck. This coordinated effort is moving both buildings quickly toward full structural form.

June 9 – Constructing roofs on buildings 1 and 2

Crews began roof sheathing on Buildings 1 and 2, a key step in enclosing the structures. This process creates a continuous, flat surface that will support the underlayment and final roofing materials. Roof sheathing not only adds structural rigidity but also helps protect the interior from weather exposure as construction progresses.

May 2– Slab placement for building 3; building 4 to follow

Crews have completed the concrete pour for Building 3, advancing the site’s structural groundwork. This newly finished slab will serve as the base for upcoming framing and utility installation. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for Building 4, with its slab scheduled to be poured in the second week of June.

May 20 – Framing begins on buildings 1 and 2

Crews have begun framing work on Building 1, starting with the installation of prefabricated wall panels and roof trusses. The wall panels are being set in place to form the building’s structural envelope, while the roof trusses—engineered to span the width of the structure—are being lifted and secured to support the future roof system. This phase marks the transition from foundation to vertical construction. Once Building 1 is fully framed, crews will move directly to Building 2 to repeat the process.

April 28, 2025 – Slab placement for buildings 1 and 2

On April 28, crews began to pour concrete slabs for Buildings 1 and 2, a major step forward in the construction process. Pouring the slabs involves placing and finishing the concrete that forms the structural foundation of each building—supporting everything from walls to utilities. This work ensures a stable, level base and allows crews to begin vertical construction in the coming weeks.

February 10, 2025 – Excavation and site preparation begin

Excavation and site preparation work has officially begun on the construction project. Crews are currently clearing and grading the area to prepare for the next phase of development. This marks a significant milestone as we transition from planning to active implementation on-site.

October 8, 2024 - National Park Service announces award of construction contract.

At Friends of Acadia’s ribbon cutting ceremony marking the completion of Dane Farm, Acadia National Park announced the award of a nearly $10 million construct new park housing. This project is being supported through the National Park Service’s Housing Improvement Program and Centennial Challenge Program, along with support from Friends of Acadia and the National Park Foundation.

Acadia National Park expects construction to begin this fall.

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