Best of 2005 Awards

Connecticut Convention Center

Award of Merit: Public Works and Facilities

The Connecticut Convention Center earned an award of merit in large part for its role as the centerpiece of the Adriaen's Landing project to reclaim Hartford's Connecticut River waterfront - and its role in the city's revitalization effort.

The 540,000-sq.-ft. center, which opened in June, is expected to draw 200 events and more than 250,000 people to the state capital in its first 12 months.

With 140,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and a 40,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, the center is the largest convention facility between New York and Boston. A joint venture between Hunt Construction Group of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Gilbane Building of Providence, R.I., led the construction effort.

The center's erection on the banks of the river was part of a 24-month first phase of Adriaen's Landing. The development includes a Marriott hotel that opened earlier this year and plans for retail and housing nearby.

"It is intended to be integral to providing a new direction for Hartford," one judge said. "That neighborhood in Hartford - at night the shutters come down. The idea is to have a riverfront recapture and a revitalization of the neighborhood."

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The $271 million facility is among the most modern, flexible, and functional convention spaces in the country. Connections for electricity, water, and the Internet are recessed throughout the convention floor to clean up the usual clutter and eliminate the danger of wires and cables snaking through the hall. Ramps in the rear allow vehicles as large as tractor-trailers to drive onto the exhibit floor to allow for easy setup and breakdown of events.

The early phases of work involved extensive utility relocation and demolition of the old CNG Building through a controlled explosive blast. In addition, the soil had known contaminants, requiring a remedial action plan and removal of several underground oil and coal tar tanks.

The construction effort included:

• 65,000 cu. yd. of concrete
• 10,000 tons of structural steel
• 9,000 tons of reinforcing steel
• 52,000 sq. ft. of panelized curtain wall
• 330,000 bricks
• 90,000 sq. ft. of brick pavers
• 1,486,000 sq. ft. of gypsum wallboard assemblies, and
• 21,000 sq. ft. of carpet.

The judges called the center "a terrific building" that stands out in the Nutmeg State. They attributed delays and other setbacks the development faced to political wrangling and problems outside of the project team's control.

Key Players

Owner-Developer: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management; Capital City Economic Development Authority

Owner's Representative: Waterford Development

Construction Manager: Hunt Construction Group; Gilbane Building

Architect: TVS Architects; Amenta Emma

MEP Engineer: BVH Integrated Services

Structural Engineer: Walter P. Moore Engineers + Consultants

Deep Foundations: Kiewit Construction

Concrete: Manafort Brothers

Structural Steel: Canam Steel

Roofing: Silktown Roofing

Electrical: Ducci Electrical Contractors

HVAC: Harry Grodsky & Co.

Plumbing: Walter D. Sullivan Co.

Sitework: J.H. Lynch & Sons