Olympia Armory Creative Campus

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What’s happening?

The working vision of the Armory Creative Campus is to support Olympia’s artistic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial spirit. As a welcoming hub, where community members find an exchange of ideas and opportunities for creative expression it can provide a safe place and resources for exploration, positive interaction, and is dedicated to inclusive practices that center community voices from groups that are often underrepresented.

Having acquired the facility in March 2022, the City seeks to leverage the 50,000 sq. ft. Armory facility for use as a creative campus. Community input has shaped the 2021-2022 concept design planning phase and will continue to guide the project into the future.

At their November 7, 2022 Study Session, City Council received a briefing on the plan and provided feedback to continue with next steps. They:

  • Directed staff to redevelop the freestanding garage as part of the Armory arts infrastructure and prioritize an alternate site for artist live/work housing.
  • Affirmed the recommendation that the Armory would be operated by the Parks, Arts and Recreation Department.
  • Affirmed the recommendation that the City would support Armory operations in a similar fashion as The Olympia Center, to help keep costs to the community as affordable as possible.

What's next?

The City of Olympia is searching for the Armory Anchor Partners.

The City is seeking community arts non-profits (Anchor Partner) with a strong track record in community arts education and training to become Anchor Partners in the Armory Creative Campus Building, relocating their operations to the site and taking on long term leases.

Get all of the details in the News feed below.

Armory is officially Closed for Construction.

Through the Department of Enterprise Services Energy Savings Program, the City of Olympia will be working with Ameresco to conduct a full-scale audit of the Armory facility as well as Phase 1 design and construction to make the building safe, accessible, and functional as a community art center. The audit will begin fall of 2023 with construction to start in 2024.

Keep up to date! The City will be posting regular updates on this work here on the Engage Page through the News feed tab below.

What’s happening?

The working vision of the Armory Creative Campus is to support Olympia’s artistic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial spirit. As a welcoming hub, where community members find an exchange of ideas and opportunities for creative expression it can provide a safe place and resources for exploration, positive interaction, and is dedicated to inclusive practices that center community voices from groups that are often underrepresented.

Having acquired the facility in March 2022, the City seeks to leverage the 50,000 sq. ft. Armory facility for use as a creative campus. Community input has shaped the 2021-2022 concept design planning phase and will continue to guide the project into the future.

At their November 7, 2022 Study Session, City Council received a briefing on the plan and provided feedback to continue with next steps. They:

  • Directed staff to redevelop the freestanding garage as part of the Armory arts infrastructure and prioritize an alternate site for artist live/work housing.
  • Affirmed the recommendation that the Armory would be operated by the Parks, Arts and Recreation Department.
  • Affirmed the recommendation that the City would support Armory operations in a similar fashion as The Olympia Center, to help keep costs to the community as affordable as possible.

What's next?

The City of Olympia is searching for the Armory Anchor Partners.

The City is seeking community arts non-profits (Anchor Partner) with a strong track record in community arts education and training to become Anchor Partners in the Armory Creative Campus Building, relocating their operations to the site and taking on long term leases.

Get all of the details in the News feed below.

Armory is officially Closed for Construction.

Through the Department of Enterprise Services Energy Savings Program, the City of Olympia will be working with Ameresco to conduct a full-scale audit of the Armory facility as well as Phase 1 design and construction to make the building safe, accessible, and functional as a community art center. The audit will begin fall of 2023 with construction to start in 2024.

Keep up to date! The City will be posting regular updates on this work here on the Engage Page through the News feed tab below.

  • Armory Lighting Event

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    At dusk following the October 2 community open house the Armory building was illuminated for the evening in a spectrum of colors.

    The lighting event was an opportunity to celebrate and inspire new creative uses of the space. Big thanks to Pacific Stage and Dave Sederberg for support with the installation.

    Watch video

  • Team Selected to Support Visioning Process

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    The City selected Framework Cultural Placemaking to lead a multi-disciplinary consulting team to help us identify partnerships, develop a business plan, and create a concept design for the Armory as a Creative Campus.

  • Armory Offered to City for use as a Creative Campus

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    Governor Inslee approved the 2021 Washington State Capital Budget, which directed the Military Department to transfer the Olympia Armory at no cost to the City of Olympia, "for use as a community asset dedicated to using the arts to support community development, arts education, and economic development initiatives.” 

Page last updated: 05 Feb 2024, 10:56 AM