Hartford, CT



With the cooperation of government and private sector teams, Riverfront Recapture, Inc. in June, 2002, saw the completion of the two-story Victorian-style boathouse in Hartford’s Riverside Park, which for decades tried to reconnect Greater Hartford to the Connecticut River. The community room and river view deck have become the “hot spot” for birthday parties, corporate receptions, political gatherings, weddings and family reunions. The facility has hosted hundreds of events with tens of thousands of visitors . . . a real contribution to the Hartford community.

What started out as a simple concrete block, single use structure, quickly turned into a much grander vision when the first design drawings were unveiled showing a structure that emulated those found in Central Park at the turn of the century. Parallel to the preliminary designs, Riverfront Recapture had been discussing their community program offerings and began to realize that the boathouse could play a much larger role in their overall mission.

This award-winning concrete structure incorporates many features required by the building’s location to withstand the annual flooding of the river. Louvers on the first floor allow water to flow through the building during flood season, 45’-long steel pilings anchor the building in bedrock below the park’s sandy soil, and aluminum doors on the first floor prevent rusting. The boathouse accommodates 64 sculls and shells on the first floor, with additional room for expansion. The second-floor community room opens to a spacious front porch with sweeping views of the river. This exciting and well-received facility can accommodate up to 300 guests, for a single event.

State AGC Award of Excellence
ABC Award of Excellence