Bridgeport residents invited to provide insights and ideas on mural design, which RiseUP will install on façade of former SCG building at Pine Street & Wordin Avenue
BRIDGEPORT, CT — Southern Connecticut Gas, a subsidiary of Avangrid (NYSE: AGR), announced that acclaimed arists and creative experts with RiseUP, a Bridgeport-based nonprofit arts organization, will install a community-designed mural on the façade of its former building at 39 Pine Street. SCG and RiseUP are soliciting community input on the mural design through September 15, and Bridgeport residents are encouraged to complete a survey to provide their preferences at this link.
Concept 1:
“The collaborative efforts of SCG, RiseUP, and city officials are a testament to what we can do when we come together with the community: turning the walls of an obsolete building into a beautiful embodiment of the strength, togetherness, and diversity that Bridgeport represents,” said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of Southern Connecticut Gas. “Twenty-nine years ago, I launched my career at SCG, and I am proud that the creativity, innovation, and problem-solving that I have long associated with this company are today on even fuller display in the largest city we serve.”
SCG has owned 39 Pine Street for approximately 45 years and formerly used the building as an operations center fleet garage before moving operations to Orange and West Haven approximately two decades ago. While SCG and parent company Avangrid are exploring future plans for the building, organizational leadership and the City of Bridgeport recognized the need to improve the aesthetics of the building façade in the interim. SCG partnered with RiseUP, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to community development through art, to lead the community outreach, design, and installation of the mural. Installation will kick off with a “Volunteer Paint Day” during the first week in October, when local artists, community members, and the SCG team will come together to lay the foundation of the artwork, and the project is expected to culminate with an unveiling in mid-October.
Concept 2 & 3
After the community survey closes on September 15, acclaimed artists Jahmane and Aisha Nailah, together with the creative talents of Alicia Cobb and Lori Bloom, will design the mural. The artists’ intention is to reflect Bridgeport's rich history, diversity, and collective spirit with an installation that resonates deeply with every resident and community in the city. Because of its central location, residents, visitors, and motorists traveling on Interstate 95, from which 39 Pine Street is visible, will see the mural.
"The beauty of this mural won’t just be in its visuals; it will be in the stories and the voices it represents," said Matt Conway, Executive Director of RiseUP. "We are immensely grateful to Southern Connecticut Gas for joining hands with us to transform this space into a canvas of unity and inspiration."
About SCG: The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG) is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. Established in 1847, SCG operates approximately 2,500 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines, serving approximately 206,000 customers in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas of Connecticut. For more information, visit www.soconngas.com.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $41 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs more than 7,500 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2023, Avangrid ranked first within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2023 for the fifth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.