REVISED: Illinois Capital Development Board Announces Design Firm for Rebuild Illinois Funded Renovation of State Armory Building

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) has selected Tilton, Kelly + Bell, as the preferred architectural design firm for the renovation of the State Armory Building in Springfield. CDB will oversee the project's design and construction in accordance with the protocol for state-appropriated projects.

Through Governor Pritzker's bipartisan capital plan, the first in nearly a decade, nearly $122 million was appropriated to CDB for this project. The administration has released $12.2 million to begin the design and stabilization of the building. The project will be phased with securing and stabilizing the Armory Building as a precursor to follow-on phases of work, which will focus on adaptive re-use of the facility. The initial phase of work provides for inspecting and assessing existing conditions, making recommendations for securing and stabilizing all elements of the building as required to halt deterioration and providing construction documents executing the work.

"Thanks to funding from the Rebuild Illinois bipartisan capital plan, the historic State Armory Building will be restored so it can once again serve the state as a functional space," said Governor JB Pritzker. "I look forward to the completion of the renovation work on the Armory and to welcoming Illinoisans from every corner back into this unique state treasure."

"The Capital Development Board envisions various uses for the Illinois State Armory after the restoration of this iconic building," said CDB Executive Director Jim Underwood. "This project will maintain the historic character of this beautiful historic facility while renovating it to full working condition."

"I'm very thankful to know that the State is moving forward with preserving and redeveloping the Springfield Armory. This massive and historic structure has been dormant for my entire tenure as a legislator, and I anticipate seeing it in use once again," said Representative Sue Scherer (D-Springfield). "As Vice-Chairperson of the Museums, Art, & Cultural Enhancements Committee, this is precisely the type of project that preserves our past, creates jobs, and enhances our future economic success."

"The announcement of selection of a design firm for the Illinois State Armory is a development Springfield residents have long waited to hear. This facility holds tremendous potential for the downtown Springfield area, and I eagerly await its future reuse," said Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield).

"The Armory holds a lot of memories for people, not only those in this community, but beyond. We are grateful to Governor Pritzker for recognizing that this place is more than a building. Through its restoration and adaptive re-use, the Armory has the potential to reenergize this area of downtown and bring new experiences for generations to come," said Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder.

The historic Rebuild Illinois capital plan passed with bipartisan super-majorities and will invest $45 billion in roads, bridges, railways, universities, early childhood centers, and state facilities like the new crime lab and veterans' homes, creating, and supporting an estimated 540,000 jobs over the life of the six-year plan and revitalizing local economies across the state.