Pratt & Whitney Engineering and Technical Center

An awards ceremony by CREW CT – The Real Estate Exchange recognized women’s contributions to standout commercial real estate projects in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, while recognizing the need to place more women in industry leadership roles and attracting more diversity in the industry.

More than 160 people attended the organization’s 24th annual Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony held Wednesday at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford.

Pratt & Whitney’s 440,000-square-foot Engineering and Technology Center in took top honors. The LEED Gold-certified building was designed to benefit the aerospace contractor’s recruitment and retention efforts, with narrow wings that maximize daylight in office space, and collaboration and networking areas located at the core of each floor. The project team included Clohessy Harris & Kaiser LLC, BVH Integrated Services, Szewczak Assoc., ACT Assoc., CR3 LLP, Bouyea Assoc., John Moriarty Assoc. Inc. and Michael Connelly.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center’s new orthopedic center in Hartford was selected by attendees as winner of the People’s Choice Award. The facility included colors and patterns designed for wayfinding aiding patients and their families, and flooring and finishes designed to be durable and slip-resistant. The project team included Tecton Architects, FIP Construction, VanZelm Engineers and STV/DPM.

Additional award recipients recognized at this week’s ceremony included:

• Deal of the Year: Infosys office lease in Hartford.
• Workplace Innovation Award: Stanley Black & Decker Manufacturing Center of Excellent in Hartford.
• Best in class, commercial: Virtus Investment Partners in Hartford.
• Best in class, education: CCSU Willard & DiLoretto Hall in New Britain.
• Best in class, commercial: FedEx Ground Distribution Hub in Middletown.
• Best in class, life science: Biohaven Pharmaceuticals in New Haven.
• Best in class, multifamily: The Tannery in Glastonbury.
• Best in class, transit-oriented development: 616 New Park in Hartford.
• Best building repositioning: Post University Howland Hughes Building in Waterbury.
• Best interior design project: Penwood Real Estate Investment Management in West Hartford.
• Best specialty project: The Boathouse at Canal Dock in New Haven.
• Best sustainable design project: Slate School in North Haven.
• Community impact award: Springfield Innovation Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The organization received 30 nominations for notable projects, which were judged by Courtney Hendricson, vice president of municipal services for the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC), Patrick McMahon, CEO of Connecticut Main Street Center and Rebecca Nolan, vice president of global business development for the MetroHartford Alliance.

CREW CT President Lisa Lugauskas said her goals for 2019 increasing the association’s membership, which has hovered around 100 for several years after rebounding from the previous decade’s economic downturn, and attracting more diversity to the organization and industry.

As part of its professional development efforts, the organization is sponsoring a series of forums on topics affecting the industry including one on April 30 about legalized cannabis’ influence on commercial real estate in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Real Estate Finance Association is co-sponsoring the breakfast meeting at The Society Room in Hartford.

Future CREW-sponsored forums this year will focus on technology’s transformation of workplaces and applications for augmented reality devices.