The restoration and renovation of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art completed by Consigli Construction Co., Inc. (Consigli) received a Preservation Award from the Hartford Preservation Alliance. The 1920s-themed 11th Annual Awards event was held at the historic Elks Lodge in Hartford during National Historic Preservation Month.
Hartford Preservation Alliance executive director, Laura Knott-Twine said, "The Wadsworth is another golden icon of Hartford. Now, newly refurbished, it will stand for another 100 to 200 years inviting everyone in to see the great and vast treasures it holds. But just as important, it will grace Hartford's Main St. as an architectural delight. The building has become a worthy museum artifact in and of itself."
The oldest public art museum in the U.S., Wadsworth Atheneum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Consigli's work involved reconstruction of the exterior's Tennessee marble parapet walls, extensive interior upgrades, HVAC upgrades and roof repairs, as well as the re-introduction of the original skylights in the Morgan galleries. The comprehensive renovation took place across all five of the museum's buildings and recaptured 10,000 s/f of refurbished gallery space. The project team included Consigli's Hartford office, SmithEdwards Architects and Alan Barton, director of facilities, who managed the project for the Wadsworth Atheneum Musuem of Art.
The mission of Hartford Preservation Alliance is to preserve and revitalize Hartford's unique architectural heritage and neighborhood character. It views historic buildings as community assets that can play an important role in creating value and stabilizing neighborhoods in the city.