Key Takeaways:
– Amazon has recently leased a 225,882-square-foot building in the Woodbridge Corporate Park, Federal Way, Wash.
– The tech company plans to utilize this site for future customer fulfillment logistics.
– The location was previously part of the Weyerhaeuser corporate campus, which Industrial Realty Group (IRG) purchased and is currently revitalizing.
– Details about the specific usage of the newly leased space by Amazon are still obscure.
– It is also known that Amazon is continually striving to increase the number of its smaller Same-Day Delivery facilities.
Seattle-based e-commerce and tech giant, Amazon, is stepping up its logistics game by leasing a new building for a future fulfillment logistics center. The recently leased property spreads over an area of 225,882-square-foot at the Woodbridge Corporate Park in Federal Way, Wash., reports GeekWire. Formerly, the building was part of the renowned Weyerhaeuser corporate campus.
Revitalizing Weyerhaeuser Campus
The property was bought in 2016 by Industrial Realty Group (IRG), intending to rejuvenate parts of the campus recognized for its architectural significance. IRG has since been dutifully improving this splendid property into a vibrant, multi-tenant site. Besides the one leased by Amazon, IRG has also finished the construction of another new building within the campus. The two edifices together offer approximately 440,000 square feet of Class A industrial space.
Building on Logistics Expansion
Looking at the diversity of Amazon’s logistics operations, including fulfillment centers, sort centers, delivery stations, and same-day delivery sites, the specific usage for the new space remains uncertain. Amazon broke its own records for Prime delivery speeds in the first quarter of this year, indicating a strategic shift to regional fulfillment centers.
That strategic shift was explained last year by Amazon executive Doug Herrington as dividing the country into smaller, easier-to-reach regions. Amazon is now served by eight interconnected regions covering small geographic patches, a change from fulfilling orders from any operational site across the entire nation.
Increasing Same-Day Delivery Facilities
At the same time, Amazon is working proactively to double its smaller Same-Day Delivery facilities. The company had previously expressed plans to expand these facilities which would be in line with their goal of enhancing customer satisfaction through timely deliveries.
Around the same time, Amazon shut down a different warehouse in Tukwila, Wash., indicating a possible shift in their geographical focus.
IRG’s Dedication to Preservation
In its revitalization effort, IRG has not neglected the rich cultural and historical aspects of the former Weyerhaeuser campus. It has invested about $3.5 million in enhancing the public right of way and upgrading various infrastructure elements such as sidewalks, lighting, roadways, landscaping, bike lanes, and stormwater systems.
The Woodbridge campus has two significant cultural resources – the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden and the Pacific Bonsai Museum, which have been well-preserved.
With its current actions and future plans, Amazon continues to reassess and improve its logistics operation, ensuring a high-quality customer experience alongside respecting the rich heritage of the local communities.
