The Phoenix Cos. announced Wednesday that it has begun an extensive renovation around its iconic “Boat Building” headquarters in Hartford that will include replacing much of the pavement surrounding its campus with greenery and shrubs.
The reconstruction plans are part of Hartford’s iQuilt Plan, a new urban design initiative being implemented by the city to strengthen pedestrian links between downtown destinations.
It was not immediately clear how much Phoenix Cos. is investing in the project.
The iQuilt Plan lists the Phoenix Boat Building as one of the city’s important cultural destinations. Phoenix’s plaza, which connects to Constitution Plaza and Riverfront Plaza, is also part of the East Coast Greenway, a designated bicycle route extending from Maine to Florida.
“The success of the iQuilt Plan depends on the participation of multiple property owners, and we are pleased the timing of our much-needed plaza renovations made it easy for us to incorporate iQuilt elements into the design,” said Bonnie J. Malley, executive vice president for Phoenix, who serves as the iQuilt Partnership Board Chairperson.
The reconstruction will take place in two stages, with the south and east sides completed this year and the north and west sides completed in 2013.
It is among several iQuilt projects underway or planned to begin next spring.
