The state Bond Commission on Friday approved $1 million as initial seed money to consolidate state offices at 450 Columbus Blvd., in buildings formerly known as Connecticut River Plaza.
It’s part of a broader consolidation of state office space amid the rise in remote work following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lamont administration last year reached an agreement with state employee unions that gives thousands of state workers the ability to work remotely for as many as four days per week. That decision drew the ire of downtown Hartford merchants that depend on state workers’ support.
Several state office buildings are being targeted for closure as part of the Lamont administration’s consolidation plan.
“The state is constantly evaluating its footprint across executive branch agencies, looking for cost savings and efficiencies for taxpayers,” said John McKay, a spokesman for the state Department of Administrative Services.
The state office complex at 450 Columbus Blvd., consists of two buildings spanning 575,000 square feet. Built in 1984, they were renovated in 2016. The state purchased the property in 2013 for $34.5 million.
The complex houses about 800 employees from the Department of Revenue Services and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, which moved to the 11-story South Tower in 2016.
In addition, more than 1,300 employees from the State Office Building at 165 Capitol Ave., were relocated to the 15-story North Tower between 2016 and 2017.
The state has recently targeted a number of office buildings for closure: 61 Woodland St., home to the state’s recently consolidated community college system, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities; 39 Woodland St., which houses the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System; and 505 Hudson St., the Department of Children and Families headquarters – all in Hartford. Also, the Department of Motor Vehicles’ building at 60 State St. in Wethersfield has been targeted for closure.
DAS has issued a request for qualifications for consultant/architectural services to “assist in the development of a space utilization plan to maximize office space within 450 Columbus Blvd., and evaluate state buildings to meet workforce needs and requirements.”
The RFQ was posted on May 11, with a June 12 deadline for firms to submit responses. DAS is currently reviewing those submissions.
The consultant will “review the State Facilities Plan, including the state’s definition of ‘usable space’ and the area allowance per employee,” along with analyzing space in comparison to industry standards, McKay said. The review will include use of hoteling, telework and modern workplace environments.
Ultimately, the consultant will make recommendations regarding “telecommuting, hoteling/hot seating based upon work type … to reflect telework options and the revised workplace options,” he said.
The state has been consolidating its office footprint for years and has put buildings it owns at 30 Trinity St. and 18-20 Trinity St. up for sale. The five-story building at 18-20 Trinity St., which housed the Freedom of Information Commission, was emptied out in May 2021.
A development team is under contract to buy both Trinity Street buildings, with plans to convert them into more than 100 apartments.
