The East Hartford Logistics & Technology Park is one of the region's largest and most strategically located sites, situated at the midpoint between the major metropolitan markets of New York and Boston.
The first two large-scale distribution centers completed in the development are fully occupied by two prominent retail end-users, helping to position the Hartford, Connecticut, region as a key location in the Northeast U.S. logistics and distribution sector.
The new logistics park, totaling over 2.5 million square feet, is located on the site of Rentschler Field, a former World War II airfield. Developed by National Development, the project included two build-to-suit, Class A distribution centers.
The construction of the two large logistics properties on the site simultaneously was notable. National Development and its general contractor, Arco National Construction, completed both facilities within an aggressive 14-month timeline, demonstrating exceptional project management, teamwork and efficiency to tackle the complexity of developing two large facilities at the same time.
For exemplifying the best in commercial real estate development, the East Hartford Logistics & Technology Park was selected for a 2025 CoStar Impact Award, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
About the project: The project team employed a series of innovative construction strategies that ensured the facilities were completed on time and within budget. 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. For the second facility, Arco implemented an innovative grading solution, sloping the entire building at a 0.25% grade. This adjustment eliminated the need for an additional 120,000 cubic yards of imported material and significantly reduced development costs.
Both facilities were designed to accommodate future solar panel installation across the buildings' roof system, and both buildings include sustainable features such as energy-efficient lighting and EV charging stations.
What the judges said: "From a size perspective, this is a generational industrial transaction for the Hartford market," said Newmark Executive Managing Director Art Ross.
"This development will have a positive long-term impact on the area economy through the reuse of the former airstrip," added John Galvin, MAI, with Galvin Appraisal Services.
They made it happen: Based in Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts, National Development is a real estate investment and development firm that invests on behalf of its series of fully discretionary funds. Senior executives involved in this development include CEO Brian Kavoogian, Chief Operating Officer Charlie Rollins, President Ed Marsteiner and Chief Investment Officer Andrew Gallinaro.
Arco National Construction has grown to become the fourth-largest design-build general contractor in the United States. The Arco National Construction team on the East Hartford Logistics & Technology Park project included President Jason Grant, Senior Project Manager Andrew Phillion, Operations Manager Nathan Morries, Project Manager James Werosta, General Superintendent Aaron Spirek, Superintendents Niels Vanderheul, Lamar Butler and Dennis O'Grady, and Senior Project Manager David Ruyffelaert.
CoStar Market Manager Coleman Applegate contributed to this report.