Pratt & Whitney, a global leader in commercial and military jet engines and a division of United Technologies Corp., today formally opened its new Engineering and Technology Center in the heart of its East Hartford campus. This new cutting edge facility will serve as a global engineering headquarters for the design of Pratt & Whitney's game-changing PurePower and F135 aircraft engines.

The new state-of-the-art building, which features 425,000 square feet of space and will accommodate up to 1,750 Pratt & Whitney employees, will serve as the company's world-class engineering facility. It was enabled through a collaboration with the State of Connecticut through the 2014 Connecticut Aerospace Reinvestment Act (CARA). Hundreds of people were on-hand for the massive ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony, including Pratt & Whitney President Robert Leduc, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (1st District), and U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (2nd District).

"This new facility that we dedicate today becomes the nerve center of Pratt & Whitney's continued excellence and global leadership in the design of the finest commercial and military engines in the world," Pratt & Whitney President Robert Leduc said. "We are attracting top engineering talent who will keep Pratt & Whitney on the leading edge of aviation technology for decades to come, and allow us to continue delivering the highest quality product for our commercial and military customers.

"I want to thank Governor Malloy for having the foresight three years ago to partner with UTC in creating the Connecticut Aerospace Reinvestment Act, which allows us to keep these highly skilled, well-paying, critically important engineering and manufacturing jobs in Connecticut – where they belong – for the long-term," Leduc added.

The ceremony began with a Veterans Day recognition of the military service by those in attendance, led by Pratt & Whitney's Military Engines President Matthew Bromberg, the executive sponsor of UTC-4-Vets, an employee resource group for former military service members and their families.

"There are more than 1,300 active members in UTC-4-Vets today, at 15 Pratt & Whitney locations across the country, a mix of military and non-military employees. Pratt & Whitney knows the great value that a veteran brings to the workplace," said Bromberg, a former nuclear submarine officer with the U.S. Navy. "Today we honor our veterans, both inside and outside the company, and their family members."

The traditional ceremonial ribbon cutting was taken to new lengths, with the ribbon literally encircling the building, held by hundreds of Pratt & Whitney employees and their families, including Maureen LeClair and Robert Gilbert, who recently celebrated their 54th and 55th years with the company, respectively.

The Pratt & Whitney Engineering and Technology Center is being considered for LEED Gold Certification with the U.S. Green Building Council.