The central office for the state’s largest public college system, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, is going to move from its historic location at 39 Woodland Street in Hartford to a state office building a few doors down that currently houses numerous state agencies and a limited number of college staff.
“The look of 39 Woodland is very grand. But I will tell you it’s not very energy efficient,” Board of Regents President Mark Ojakian told the system’s Finance and Infrastructure Committee Wednesday, explaining how cold his office is in the winter months.
The CSCU system includes the four regional state universities, 12 community colleges and the online Charter Oak College.
The 45 staff that work in the Tudor Revival mansion built in 1908 will be informed during a meeting Friday morning that they will be moving to 61 Woodland Street later this year.
“While it’s a beautiful building, it’s not very efficient to working together,” said Ojakian. “It’s an issue of collective morale by having everyone in the same place.”
The state office building where central office will relocate currently houses the state Office for Higher Education, Judicial Marshals and the Department of Developmental Services.
With the college system facing budget deficits, the move is also expected to save a small amount of money. The property will be given back to the state for it to decide how it will be used.