Posted on 06/02/2005 11:02:40 AM PDT by nutmeg
What was once an architect's sketch is now a reality for Connecticut. This morning in Hartford the Connecticut Convention Center opened its doors, ready to welcome the crowds.
This massive building sits on the eastern-most edge of downtown Hartford, next to I-91, and it's tough to miss.
Governor Jodi Rell and Mayor Eddie Perez cut the ribbon around 9 a.m. More than 5,000 visitors and invited guests are expected throughout the day.
The first major event is the Connecticut Business Xpo 2005. Several other organizations will hold opening day events all day long.
The construction cost of the convention center is $271 million. The building is 540,000 square feet; it includes a 10-story glass atrium, more than 200,000 square feet of meeting space and beautiful views of the city and the Connecticut River.
There will be an open house on Sunday from eleven to four.
(Excerpt) Read more at courant.com ...
Born in Hartford, raised in Rocky Hill, living in Virginia now and hoping to move further south; SC perhaps. CT is nice and I will always have my childhood and high school memories, but I need palm trees in my life now. :) That and it's too d*mned expensive up there!
Someday, hubby and I will probably move somewhere south, but as it is, I can barely stand the summer heat and HUMIDITY up here now! Not sure if I'd ever get used to it "down South".
My feelings exactly! During Mark Twain's time, Hartford was referred to as something like "the Paris of the United States" (referring to the beautiful architecture in Paris, France). Sadly, that Hartford is long gone...
I was an angineer for a slurry wall specialty subcontractor. None of the work I did leaks. The part where general contractors (MODERN CONTINENTAL) self performed the slurry wall work is where the problems are.
It is an amazing project with an unparrallelled scope & complexity. I am proud to have worked on it.
Care to post a pic or two for us ex-pat CT residents?
I worked in Boston when they were freezing the ground under South Station. Always very bizarre to take the train and look down at frozen mud in July.
Is this Hartford's consolation prize for not getting the Patriots and a new stadium? ;)
I hear ya, but it's actually pretty comparable to CT in that respect here in VA. Winters aren't as cold, and while I love snow and miss skiing quite a lot, well, it's cheaper here and much more laid back. Besides, going back to CT now, even when I visit family, just makes me feel like I'm regressing instead of moving forward with life. I dunno, I like visiting but could never live there again, I just don't belong there anymore.
Living in Stamford I feel disconnected from the rest of the state. Lower FFC seems to be more aligned media wise and culturally with New York.
Just an observation, any other CT Freepers feel that way? Hartford is as far away as Boston or Philly to me in some ways.
Not slamming the rest of the state, I just dont know alot about it!
Where's Stamford????
You are correct.
If you remember 2 big drill rigs, one red & one yellow, while they were doing the freezing, that was one of the jobs I ran. We would have the loader guy dump a load of frozen dirt near where we were working when it got hot. We had to get rid of it as soon as it got warm because it stank.
I don't have any good digital big dig pics. I used one of those disposable underwater cameras because I was in more mud in a day than the average farm hog.
If you want some HTFD convention center pics, i an sure we can get those.
>>I can barely stand the summer heat and HUMIDITY up here now!
That's why I moved out West (New Mexico and Cali). I hate humidity, heat isn't too much of a problem.
Still I miss green leaves on the trees and the stone walls, and cool country backroads. They have nice backroads out here too, but they are swarming with people.
Kewl..now they can get another NHL franchise..
When I grew up in CT, I never considered that part of the state to be CT. It was essentially NY.
Sounds like it still is.
Exactly how I feel about boston.
LOL. Another WHL franchise?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.