Ameresco and City of Olympia, Washington Break Ground on Nearly $17 Million Building Retrofit Project at Olympia Armory
The multi-phase project encompasses energy efficiency, safety, and accessibility upgrades in addition to installing a 150-kW solar photovoltaic and 125-kW battery energy storage system at the City's new arts center while preserving the historic character of the Armory building
Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE: AMRC), a leading energy solutions provider dedicated to helping customers navigate the energy transition, today officially began on a building retrofit project at the Olympia Armory, joined by city officials and community members from Olympia, Washington. The approximately $17 million multi-phase adaptive reuse project will start with upgrades to the Olympia Armory that address safety requirements, improve accessibility, and enhance energy efficiency. Improvements to the building and the installation of a solar photovoltaic system will proceed in parallel. The solar technology will facilitate on-site energy generation and support ongoing cost reductions.
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City of Olympia officials and Ameresco team members gather to celebrate the groundbreaking of the transformative retrofit project at the historic Olympia Armory.
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. It was acquired by the City of Olympia in 2022, and the City contracted with Ameresco to support plans to repurpose the building as a creative campus and arts center for the community.
"We are excited to bring this next iteration of the Olympia Armory to life, building on the site's history as a community gathering place," said Valerie Roberts, Armory Building Manager. "Ameresco is the perfect partner to help execute our vision. Their expertise and innovative approach provide that the Armory is operating efficiently and equipped with the energy resiliency technology to serve our community in its new form."
Ameresco kicked off a full-scale facility audit in the fall of 2023 and started developing plans for the project. These plans commenced after the groundbreaking ceremony, and encompass a comprehensive set of safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency upgrades to ensure the Armory can serve its intended functions effectively.
Key life safety improvements include seismic structural enhancements, the installation of modern fire suppression systems, and upgraded fire alarm infrastructure. Accessibility upgrades feature the addition of an elevator, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant exterior ramps, and essential interior modifications to meet ADA requirements. Energy efficiency enhancements involve improving ventilation systems and upgrading electrical and lighting components.
While the building is being updated to current safety and accessibility standards, the second phase will focus on installation of on-site energy generation technology. Plans for a 150-kW solar photovoltaic system are underway and will advance concurrently with the initial construction efforts.
In total, the project is anticipated to take approximately 18 months to complete. The multiphase infrastructure improvement initiative 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.
"Our Ameresco team is pleased to be able to contribute to the Olympia community and secure efficiency and cost-savings for the Armory," Lou Maltezos, President of Central & Western USA, Canada Regions at Ameresco. "We look forward to seeing this project progress over the coming months and to seeing the success of the arts center at the Olympia Armory powered by resilient, reliable energy."
To learn more about the energy efficiency solutions offered by Ameresco, visit www.ameresco.com/energy-efficiency/.
About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC) is a leading energy solutions provider dedicated to helping customers reduce costs, enhance resilience, and decarbonize to net zero in the global energy transition. Our comprehensive portfolio includes implementing smart energy efficiency solutions, upgrading aging infrastructure, and developing, constructing, and operating distributed energy resources. As a trusted full-service partner, Ameresco shows the way by reducing energy use and delivering energy infrastructure solutions to Federal, state and local governments, utilities, educational and healthcare institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. Headquartered in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,500 employees providing local expertise in North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.
The announcement of a customer's entry into a project contract is not necessarily indicative of the timing or amount of revenue from such contract, of Ameresco's overall revenue for any particular period or of trends in Ameresco's overall total project backlog. This project was included in Ameresco's previously reported awarded backlog as of June 30, 2025.
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Media Contact:
Ameresco: Leila Dillon, 508-661-2264, [email protected]