HARTFORD — The University of Connecticut will sign a $4 million agreement Thursday to renovate and lease space at the Hartford Public Library for its new downtown Hartford campus.

The center of the $140 million campus will be at the former Hartford Times property on Prospect Street, where construction is well underway. The nearby library will provide space for classrooms, a library collection and study areas.

In addition, UConn purchased 38 Prospect St. last year for $4 million for classrooms and offices. UConn hopes to negotiate an agreement to use the auditorium at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

UConn says it is aiming to create an urban neighborhood campus so students will need to go outside of the main Times building. The university aims to increase foot traffic downtown and boost patrons at local businesses, especially neighboring Front Street.

The university's lease at the library will run 15 years and include annual payments to cover maintenance, security and other operating expenses. In the first year, the payment would be $172,000.

Thursday's 3 p.m. signing at the library's Center for Contemporary Culture will include remarks by Mayor Luke Bronin, the library's chief executive officer Bridget Quinn-Carey and UConn President Susan Herbst.

———

©2016 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.)

Visit The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) at www.courant.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.