Lessons Learned on the Hartford, CT Green Capitols Project

The City of Hartford Connecticut “Green Capitols” project is part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) national initiative designed to use public buildings in municipalities, capital cities and campuses across the country as demonstration areas for green infrastructure. By limiting the amount of stormwater runoff entering the combined sewer system in Hartford, a goal of this project is to demonstrate that green roofs, porous pavements, rain gardens and other forms of green infrastructure can serve as cost- effective, environmentally preferable alternatives to conventional stormwater conveyance and treatment structures. This project was a collaborative effort of the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP), State Capital Office of Legislative Management (OLM), and CDM to integrate green demonstration areas on the historic Capitol grounds. The project was planned, designed and constructed from 2009 to 2010. This paper reviews the engineering behind the recommended green stormwater management facilities, details on lessons learned on the project and project costs.