The new Connecticut Lottery headquarters is located in Rocky Hill, CT. The new building opened in August 2022 after the lottery commissioned its construction in 2020. The new headquarters building is 90,000 square feet and cost approximately $35 million to build. It houses over 100 employees in a modern, energy efficient building with expanded warehouse space.
Why did the CT Lottery build a new headquarters?
The CT Lottery outgrew its previous headquarters located in Newington, CT. That building was around 40 years old and lacked sufficient warehouse space needed for lottery operations. Constructing a new building allowed the lottery to customize the layout and security for its specific needs. It provides expanded office space, training facilities, and a more efficient warehouse setup.
What features does the new building have?
Some key features of the new CT Lottery headquarters include:
- 90,000 square feet of space
- LEED Silver certified for energy efficiency
- Expanded warehouse space with 18 truck bays
- Enhanced security features such as secured parking and badge entry
- Training and conference rooms for employees
- Collaborative workspaces and modern office design
- Onsite generator for resilient operations
How was the building designed?
The CT Lottery hired Antinozzi Associates to design the new headquarters. The building was designed to meet the lottery’s specific needs with a focus on security, efficiency, and collaborative workspace. Input was gathered from lottery employees to customize the office layout. The warehouse was designed for optimized workflow and storage. Sustainable building practices were used to attain LEED Silver certification.
Where is the new headquarters located?
The address of the new CT Lottery headquarters is:
777 Brook Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Rocky Hill is a suburb of Hartford located just south of the city. The new headquarters is conveniently located off I-91 for employee access and logistics operations.
What was on the site previously?
The new headquarters building is located on a 10-acre parcel of undeveloped land purchased by the CT Lottery. There were no structures on the site prior to the construction of the new headquarters. The site provided a blank slate for the custom-designed office complex.
Why was Rocky Hill chosen?
Several factors led to the selection of Rocky Hill for the new CT Lottery headquarters:
- Proximity to Hartford where many employees live
- Easy highway access via I-91 for employees and logistics
- Large available parcel to build a standalone facility
- Support from Rocky Hill town officials
- Opportunity to customize the site layout and design
Overall, Rocky Hill provided the right mix of location, space, and access needed for an efficient lottery headquarters operation.
How large is the new headquarters?
Key details on the size of the new CT Lottery headquarters:
- 90,000 square feet total building space
- Houses over 100 employees
- 18 truck bays for incoming and outgoing shipments
- Expanded warehouse space compared to old HQ:
- Old warehouse: Approximately 15,000 square feet
- New warehouse: Around 40,000 square feet
- 630 parking spaces for employees and visitors
| Building Area | Square Feet |
|---|---|
| Total Space | 90,000 |
| Office Space | 50,000 |
| Warehouse | 40,000 |
The expanded warehouse space was a major driver for the new headquarters. The old building lacked adequate room for inventory, shipments, and logistics operations. The new facility provides the lottery with ample space for its current and future needs.
What operations happen at headquarters?
As the hub of CT Lottery operations, the headquarters houses a variety of critical functions:
- Business offices – Finance, Marketing, Sales, IT, Human Resources, Security, Executive Offices
- Warehouse – Incoming inventory storage, order processing and fulfillment, shipping and receiving
- Claim Center – Processes claims and validates winning tickets
- Draw Studio – Where drawings are held and broadcast
- Training facilities – For employee training and development
- Data center – Servers and infrastructure for lottery systems and data
The headquarters serves as the central hub for all lottery functions including ticket logistics, drawing broadcasts, claim validations, and business operations. The new facility was designed to optimize workflow and efficiency across all these critical areas.
How are warehouse operations enhanced?
The new warehouse layout offers significant improvements:
- More shipping and receiving bays to handle truck traffic
- Increased storage space and optimized racking layout
- Better workflow between receiving, storage, order fulfillment, and shipping areas
- Space to accommodate inventory growth
- Ergonomic workstations and equipment
These upgrades allow the lottery to more efficiently process incoming ticket orders, manage inventory, pick and ship retailer orders, transport materials between stations, and handle increasing volumes. The warehouse is critical for keeping tickets in circulation across Connecticut.
How has office space changed?
The new headquarters provides updated office space designed for collaboration:
- More open floorplan with low cubicle walls
- Informal gathering spaces and huddle rooms
- Standing desks and ergonomic seating options
- Natural lighting from large windows
- Outdoor patio area for employees
These features reflect modern office design geared towards flexibility, collaboration, and knowledge worker needs. Employees provided input on desired amenities during the design process. It results in an enjoyable, engaging workplace that helps attract and retain talent.
How did the project impact the local economy?
Construction of the new CT Lottery headquarters provided economic benefits to the local economy in several ways:
- Employed hundreds of temporary construction workers over 2 years
- Business for regional construction firms who worked on the project
- Purchases made from local building supply and material vendors
- Sales for nearby restaurants and shops patronized by construction crews
In addition, the completed headquarters employs over 100 permanent workers who live and spend in the region. The lottery estimates the total economic impact from construction at over $50 million. The building represents a long-term investment that will continue benefiting the area for many years.
How many construction jobs did it create?
The project created an estimated 250-300 temporary construction jobs. This includes roles such as:
- Construction managers and supervisors
- Tradesmen such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters
- Equipment operators
- General laborers
- Architects, surveyors, and engineers
- Security personnel
- Administrative staff
These workers were employed by the general contractors and subcontractors engaged to build the headquarters facility. The positions provided steady work for area residents over the 2-year construction period.
What local vendors were involved?
Dozens of local vendors supplied goods and services supporting project construction including:
- Building supply companies providing lumber, concrete, tools, hardware
- Contractors supplying excavation, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work
- Architecture and engineering firms involved in design
- Environmental and landscaping companies
- Security providers
- Restaurants and caterers feeding construction crews
These vendors benefited from millions in purchases made over the course of the headquarters construction. The project utilized local providers whenever possible to invest back into the community.
How was the project funded?
The CT Lottery funded construction of the new headquarters building using existing cash reserves and operations revenue. As an enterprise fund, the lottery generates proceeds used to manage operations and invest in growth. Funds were allocated over multiple years to pay for the $35 million project.
What revenue sources did the lottery use?
The lottery funded the headquarters from the following revenue streams:
- Ticket sales – Portion of proceeds from lottery ticket purchases
- Licensing fees – Fees paid by retailers who sell lottery tickets
- Building rental income – Rent paid by retailers and vendors
- Investment income – Interest and dividends from cash reserves
These sources provide steady, reliable income used to pay for general expenses and big investments like the new headquarters. The lottery maintained sufficient reserves to pay for construction costs without taking on new debt through bonds or loans.
How was the budget appropriated?
The headquarters project was budgeted over multiple years:
| Fiscal Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $8 million |
| 2021 | $12 million |
| 2022 | $10 million |
| 2023 | $5 million |
| Total | $35 million |
Spreading the budget over time allowed the lottery to fund the project from ongoing revenues without impacting other operations. Careful planning and use of reserves delivered the project on time and on budget.
What environmental features does the building have?
The CT Lottery incorporated several environmentally friendly features into the new headquarters:
- LEED Silver certified – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for sustainability.
- Vegetated roof – Plants and vegetation on roof to manage stormwater runoff.
- Renewable energy – Solar panels provide clean electricity.
- Electric vehicle charging – Charging stations accommodate electric vehicles.
- Energy efficiency – Building envelop, HVAC, and lighting designed for maximum efficiency.
- Water conservation – Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce water usage.
These measures help minimize the building’s environmental footprint. They demonstrate the lottery’s commitment to responsible operations and stewarding taxpayer dollars.
How did the project earn LEED certification?
The headquarters project incorporated various strategies to attain LEED Silver certification:
- Site selection avoiding sensitive habitats and wetlands
- Managing stormwater runoff and erosion during construction
- Reducing light pollution from exterior lighting
- Using regional materials to reduce transportation impacts
- Recycling construction waste
- Installing bike racks and electric vehicle charging stations
LEED provides third-party validation of sustainability efforts. It demonstrates the CT Lottery’s commitment to responsible development and environmental stewardship.
What recycling and waste efforts were used?
The project had a robust recycling and waste management program:
- Submitted a waste management plan tracking disposal methods
- Implemented job site recycling for paper, metal, glass, plastic
- Recycled over 75% of construction waste
- Donated unused materials to Habitat for Humanity
- Mulched and composted cleared vegetation
These steps diverted substantial waste from landfills. They minimized the headquarters’ footprint from construction through occupancy.
How does the new headquarters benefit CT?
The new CT Lottery headquarters provides several benefits to the state:
- Modern, efficient facility supporting lottery operations
- Expanded capacity to meet sales growth and revenue goals
- Enhanced warehouse logistics capabilities
- Improved security features
- Collaborative work environment to attract talent
- Demonstrates commitment to sustainability
- Local economic impact from construction
The headquarters will support lottery efforts to responsibly generate income contributing over $400 million to the state annually. The building provides a long-term home enabling the lottery to adapt and grow for decades to come.
How does it benefit Rocky Hill?
For Rocky Hill specifically, the headquarters delivers benefits such as:
- Prestigious corporation as new community partner
- Ongoing tax revenues and local spending
- Jobs and commerce from lottery vendor partnerships
- Civic improvements on headquarters property
- Name recognition from association with CT Lottery
The town welcomes the investment and ongoing economic activity. The modern development enhances Rocky Hill’s commercial district. It’s a point of pride and tangible benefit for the community.
How does it benefit CT residents?
For Connecticut overall, residents benefit through:
- Hundreds of jobs created by the project
- Lottery revenue supporting state programs and services
- Convenience of playing lottery games across the state
- Civic improvements from lottery grants and partnerships
- Sense of pride from an efficiently run state enterprise
The headquarters supports lottery efforts to expand opportunities and fun for players while generating vitally needed state revenue. It’s a facility working to benefit all CT residents.
Conclusion
The new Connecticut Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill represents a major investment in the lottery’s future. The state-of-the-art, 90,000 square foot facility provides expanded capacity for efficient operations, warehouse logistics, and a collaborative workforce. Considerable planning went into site selection, building design, and ensuring responsible environmental practices. The $35 million project was funded through the lottery’s reserves and ongoing revenues, providing an economic boost through construction. The headquarters better positions the CT Lottery to sustain essential income benefiting communities across Connecticut for years to come.
