CREW Blue Ribbon Awards Program Book 2022

Boys & Girls Club of Hartford, South End Hartford, CT

The Boys & Girls Club of Hartford fills the gap between school and home for 10,000 city youth annually. While there are more children in Hartford’s South End than in any other part of the city, there were no after-school programs serving the community. BGCH saw the urgent need to open a new facility and launched a campaign to build a new member club. Project stakeholders collaborated to overcome challenges presented by the budget, first by securing a long- term lease arrangement on a parcel on the southern edge of Alfred Burr Middle School. This allowed for the redirection of funds toward the project’s design and provided direct access to the facility for the Burr students. The AEC team embraced the idea that every dollar saved on the building could be put toward serving another child and adopted a highly collaborative and proactive approach to managing the budget. This process was so successful that at project completion, the team was able to return close to a million dollars back to the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford. With this children-first/community-first approach in mind, the team also incorporated sustainable and energy- saving features to further modernize the building, securing its functionality for generations to come. Clerestory windows drive daylight into the building’s central space, providing ample natural light. The Kalwal in the gym also provides natural light and prevents excessive heat gain. Despite budget limitations and the emphasis on cost-effective measures, the completed project is open and welcoming, with modern design features meant to excite the children and teens of Hartford. Natural light, colors, texture, and robust technology combine with meaningful spatial characteristics to create a harmonious environment. The interior layout centers around the games room, a two-story space containing tables and video games, as well as dining, social, and study areas. A subdividable community room adjacent to the gym allows for educational and enrichment programming and maximizes safety and supervision. By prioritizing budget flexibility while also providing a modern design, the team created an exciting community center that will serve the children and families of Hartford’s South End for generations to come. Size : 26,400 sf Project Team: JCJ Architecture, Bemis Associates, LLC, Macchi Engineers, Freeman Companies, Newcomb & Boyd, Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford, Construction Solutions Group, LLC, Bartlett Brainard Eacott, Inc. Owner: The Boys & Girls Club of Hartford, South End

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