A vacant landmark with a clear path forward
The former Armory in St. Johnsbury, Vermont had sat vacant for years. The Town established a clear redevelopment direction: retain the historic presence along Main Street while converting the site into a modern asset for essential services and broader community use. The work required disciplined execution across two constraints: environmental conditions common to legacy facilities and demolition sequencing that protected the building elements most closely associated with the Armory.
Preserving what matters while clearing what does not
Built in 1916, the Armory served generations as a military facility and community recreation space. The project team prioritized the iconic two-story brick façade and planned selective dismantling behind it to create flexible public-service space.
Onterris worked alongside the Town team to translate that intent into a field-ready sequence. The team aligned access, staging and safety controls to support façade preservation, then dismantled the outdated gymnasium and selected interior sections in a controlled order. This approach maintained continuity for the streetscape while keeping work practical for crews operating under schedule pressure.
Funding alignment that matched site realities
Redeveloping long-unused properties requires funding that follows the work plan from remediation through stabilization and redevelopment.
The project secured support across multiple channels, including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields grants, a Community Development Block Grant and funding support through the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. With those sources aligned, the team maintained momentum while addressing contamination and stabilizing historic features.
Disciplined material management from removal to disposition
Demolition and remediation required strict separation across 10 distinct waste streams. The work included regulated materials such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos and lead-based paint, alongside materials suitable for reuse or recycling such as brick, concrete and metal.
Onterris established protocols that kept hazardous and nonhazardous materials segregated from removal through final disposition. In parallel, the team followed a separation plan tailored to façade preservation, removing contaminated and outdated sections behind the façade while maintaining the integrity of the building’s most recognizable feature.
We kept sequencing and material separation consistent, working in close conjunction with the contractor, which resulted in significant cost savings by consolidating waste streams and minimizing PCB materials requiring disposal as a hazardous waste. The remedial design and approach to addressing PCB contamination was developed in conjunction with the Architectural Team and the State Historic Preservation Office to achieve the goal of its intended reuse and protecting future occupants while also maintaining historic preservation priorities.
A civic asset built for daily operations
When complete, the revitalized Armory will support essential public services, including police and dispatch operations, while providing flexible space that can adapt to future needs. The project demonstrates a repeatable approach for municipalities redeveloping historic, underutilized properties: define what must remain, plan demolition around that priority and maintain disciplined controls across environmental and material streams.