A $16 Million dollar project that included demolition and renovation of a approximately 300,000 sq. ft. of existing office and warehouse space in only 5 months - A tall order but Rizzo Corporation was up for the challenge. When Amazon decided to bring one of their Last Mile Distribution Centers to Danbury - along with anywhere from 300 to 500 local jobs - Rizzo Corp understood how important it was to get this project completed on time.

This project began the first week of June 2020 and was successfully completed and turned over in October 2020. Everyone brought on site understood that this project would require around-the-clock work - days, nights, and weekends - to meet a strict deadline.

All of this work was completed while operating under strict and ever-changing COVID-19 conditions. Rizzo was able to adapt efficiently so as not to incur any delays in this project.

The site of the former Scholastic Distribution Center required the complete removal of a 3-story structure, including its foundation, along with a complete gutting of all interior office space, warehouse racking, among other items, to make way for the necessary renovations.

Demolition was carefully sequenced so that new construction could begin immediately in the remaining space.

Ultimately, Amazon required 150,00 sq. ft. of space, consisting of 12,000 sq. ft. of new office facilities and 90,000 sq. ft. of space for the actual Distribution Center. The existing entire 18 acres of space had to be reconstructed to accommodate Amazon's need to park over 370 cars, nearly 50 vans, and loading docks for 9 tractor trailers. Included in this was a 25,000 sq. ft. covered canopy where delivery vans could be parked and loaded while protected from the ever change weather conditions characteristic of Connecticut.

Crucial to the success of this project, and to Amazon's operations, was the reconstruction of a bridge and culvert on Old Sherman Turnpike. The existing bridge was not wide enough to allow two lanes of traffic and tractor trailers were absolutely out of the question. This benefits not only Amazon, but all of the surrounding businesses.