Crystal Mall, reimagined: Electric Boat turns vacant storefronts into corporate offices

Electric Boat has broken ground on an adaptive reuse project to transform Waterford’s Crystal Mall into a corporate campus. At a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday morning, General Dynamics Electric Boat President Mark Rayha said the site—expected to employ up to 5,000 employees—will help the company “do things smarter, and do things faster,” enabling delivery of more submarines to the nation. Matthew Pugliese, deputy commissioner for Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development, called it potentially the largest and most successful adaptive reuse property in the state’s history. Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule said the project will bring jobs, education, workforce development, new businesses, and a stronger tax base, while keeping the mall’s 2,000-pound crystal chandelier.