Walk by 64 Pratt St. and there’s little sign that major construction in full swing, so much so that some have wondered whether a new residence hall for the University of Connecticut will actually be ready for the fall of 2026. But inside, the impression is far different: dozens of framers, electricians, plumbers and others are carving 50 suites, for up to 200 students, out of former, long-vacant office space in downtown Hartford, all headed to a hard-and-fast deadline at the end of July. “It’s actually a compliment we’re quiet,” Igor Stojcevic, project manager for InnoConn Construction Management, said. “We’re kind of staying in the background.” The new residence hall for UConn’s Hartford regional campus makes The Courant’s 7 Hartford Projects to Watch in 2026, a list drawn from interviews with developers, business groups, public officials and others. While new projects strike a note of optimism, the challenges faced by the city remain significant. Office vacancies — a consequence of corporate lease downsizings after a major shift to remote work following the pandemic — still dog the downtown. A recent study by major developers downtown found a 40% vacancy rate in prime office space among the some of the most recognizable towers in the city’s skyline: CityPlace I, 20 Church St. — the “Stilts Building” — and two skyscrapers in Constitution Plaza. The same study estimated that $450 million in public subsidies over three years would be needed to convert to new uses, including apartments and hotel rooms.
7 massive CT development projects to watch in 2026: Housing, hotels, retail and redevelopment
