Aspen hears update on Armory Hall progress

City staff updated Aspen City Council on Monday on the continued pre-construction progress for the remodel of Armory Hall.

Armory Hall is “a priority project” for council, according to a staff report, with just over $15 million appropriated for it in 2026. The aim of the presentation was to inform council on the project’s current status and the next steps needed to achieve the planned timeline for getting the construction phase underway.

Shaw Construction, the construction manager/Contractor at Risk selected to provide pre-construction services, has had weekly meetings with the design team in order to inform decisions based on “constructability” and revised cost estimates, the report states. Council authorized Shaw to engage in additional sub consultants to complete engineering for Armory Hall’s building lift — classified as relocation by the land use code — as well as temporary shoring design and structural bracing for selective demolition after the lift.

“I’ve lifted a lot of houses, and I’m familiar with a lot of the basics of it and comfortable with it,” Council Member Bill Guth said. But he added, “Has anyone said we’re insane to lift this building?”

While Jen Phelan, development manager, reassured council no one had said those words, she did acknowledge that it was a radical ambition.

“This is probably a first for the community as far as a downtown brick structure of this size,” Phelan said.

The lift will be driven by the structural engineers on the project, as presented to council, ensuring that the lift is the safest means to get this done. Phelan also noted that the lift will be vertical, not lateral, which is better suited for older buildings. The aim is currently to have it lifted in October.

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The Historic Preservation Commission is set to review the project on May 13 to consider the lift request, finalize stage structure materials and review design modifications to the Galena Street parkway, according to the staff report.

Asset staff have also received an initial Guaranteed Maximum Price proposal from Shaw for construction, which is currently under review and will be finalized over the next month, the report confirms.

“The project remains within the previously presented budget … actually a little bit under,” Phelan said.

The GMP proposal and two additional contracts will be presented to council in early summer.

Initial permit review comments have also been received and responses are “underway,” with Phelan adding that it will likely be a phased permit that is issued in order to allow construction to start in a timely manner.

Vacating of the Armory remains on schedule, with the Parks Department recently moving out and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association packing up and anticipated to be out by the end of the month, Phelan confirmed.

The required IT work on site is underway, the staff report adds, with asbestos remediation planned. Phelan told council there are already six submissions following a Request for Proposals last fall. A formal RFP will be issued once there is a confirmed start date.

Council Member Sam Rose asked how the Armory Hall project will impact the Aspen Saturday Market this summer.

“We’re still working through it,” Phelan said, noting she had a meeting with the market operators coming up.

She said, however, that there would be some impact to the stalls along Hopkins Ave. and the park beside Armory Hall that traditionally is utilized by food vendors will be closed.

“I’d rather see something different that was vibrant and successful than something that was the same and half-baked,” Guth pointed out.

While construction is currently not planned for Saturdays, he noted he’d rather allow construction on Saturdays and move the market entirely in order to get the project done as quickly as possible.

Phelan also noted WE-cycle has already been moved from Hopkins Ave. to Galena St., and the parking along Galena St. and Hopkins Ave. around Armory Hall will be taken over for construction.

Council were in favor of continuing the progress being made on the project in light of all the information they received.