ARCO Completes Over 2.5 Million Square Feet of Space for National Development and End-Users Lowe’s and Wayfair in 14 Months
ARCO National Construction is proud to announce the successful completion of two state-of-the-art distribution facilities, totaling more than 2.5 million square feet, for National Development and end-users Lowe’s and Wayfair. The large-scale facilities are strategically located in the East Hartford Logistics & Technology Park, a 300-acre site providing easy access to major markets, including New York and Boston.
Lowe’s occupies the 1,300,000 square foot facility within the park as part of its national distribution expansion plan announced in 2020. The distribution center provides daily shipments of large items such as riding mowers and will supply more than 119 stores across the Northeast. The adjacent 1,215,169 square foot facility was built for Wayfair.
With construction occurring simultaneously, ARCO completed both facilities within just 14 months.
Strategic Schedule Saving Solutions
ARCO’s design-build approach allowed the team to quickly identify the critical path and implement strategic measures to maintain the aggressive project schedule and avoid any major delays. For example, to maximize productivity, ARCO hired additional crews to work on both buildings simultaneously and brought in two concrete batch plants to ensure an uninterrupted supply of concrete. Additionally, despite weather challenges, including extensive rainfall—such as 14 inches in July 2023 and 3.3 inches in one day alone—ARCO met critical milestones on time.
Value Engineering Solutions for Cost Efficiency
ARCO also offered creative solutions for both facilities that resulted in significant cost savings. For the Wayfair facility, ARCO reduced costs by optimizing the number of HVLS fans, incorporating welded decks, and using an alternative floor caulk. These design adjustments contributed to substantial savings without compromising quality.
For the Lowe’s facility, ARCO implemented an innovative grading solution, sloping the entire building at a 0.25 percent grade. This adjustment eliminated the need for an additional 120,000 cubic yards of imported material, significantly reducing costs while maintaining structural integrity.
Project Details
Lowes:
- 1,300,000 SF Distribution Facility
- 1,284,153 SF Warehouse
- 15,847 SF Office
- Tilt-Up Construction
- 40’ Clear Height
- 147 Dock Positions
- 740 Trailer Parking Spaces & 446 Auto Parking Spaces
Wayfair:
- 1,215,169 SF Build-to-Suit Facility
- 1,185,600 SF Warehouse
- 29,569 SF Office
- Structural Steel Construction
- 40’ Clear Height
- 150 Dock Positions
- 505 Trailer Parking Spaces & 430 Auto Parking Space
