City of Olympia, WA

09/29/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/29/2025 16:46

09/29/2025 - Breaking Ground on Olympia Armory Retrofits

Breaking ground on the Olympia Armory

On Sept. 25, 2025, Olympia's arts and culture community came together to celebrate a "ground breaking" at the Olympia Armory building. The 43,000-square-foot facility is now temporarily closed for construction. It will reopen in mid-2027 as a repurposed community creative campus and arts center.

A sign announcing the construction was revealed after remarks by Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne, Interim Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Sylvana Niehuser and Building Manager Valerie Roberts.

The $19 million investment will address key life and safety needs. This includes seismic structural enhancements, the installation of modern fire suppression systems and upgraded fire alarm infrastructure. Accessibility upgrades include the addition of an elevator, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant exterior ramps and essential interior modifications to meet ADA requirements. Energy efficiency enhancements span improved ventilation systems to upgraded electrical and lighting. The work will proceed in parallel with the installation of a photovoltaic solar system for on-site energy generation to help reduce operation costs.

In July, the Olympia City Council approved 30-year bonds to fund construction, with repayment by Olympia Metropolitan Parks District (OMPD) junior taxing district dollars.

The construction effort is being delivered through an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with Ameresco, who provided price and performance guarantees, and helped ensure participation from local businesses and key community stakeholders.

Olympians participated in Community Visioning efforts from Summer 2021 to Fall 2022 - culminating with Olympia City Council's adoption of a concept plan. The current upgrades will form the groundwork for that vision (future phases will be required to reach the full design) and align with the building's historic character and designations.

The Olympia Armory was first constructed in 1939, on the same site that was previously home to the City's primary public school, built in 1890. The Armory served as the headquarters for various army units from the second World War and onward and hosted a range of events from art exhibitions to car shows. In 2021, the Washington State Legislature transferred the facility to the City of Olympia at no cost. The City took possession in 2022.

Once the building reopens, eight selected future non-profit tenants will move into the space: The Bridge Music Project, Capital City Pride, Community Print, Kokua Services /Hummingbird Studio, Olympia Film Collective, Olympia Lamplighters, PARC Foundation and TC Media.

To stay informed, sign up to receive Arts and Culture updates at e-news updates at olympiawa.gov/news.
Learn More
Contact
Valerie Roberts, Armory Building Manager
Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation
360.753.8468
[email protected]
City of Olympia, WA published this content on September 29, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 29, 2025 at 22:47 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]