Culver Road Armory

Location

145 Culver Road, Rochester NY, 14620

Occupant(s)

Offices and retail

Wheelchair Accessible?

Yes

Property Owner

Whitney Baird Associates

Property Owner's Phone

585 442 0021

Website

http://CulverRoadArmory.com

Facebook

Architect - Redevelopment

Philip Michael Brown Studio

Construction

1916

Third-Party Websites

City of Rochester - Details about the project

The Culver Road Armory is located across from Cobbs Hill Park in Upper Monroe. It was constructed in 1916 under the ownership of the Army National Guard. It was maintained as home to the 121st Calvary Division stables and training ground. It also contained the Troop H barracks, offices, recreation rooms, a cafeteria, saddle rooms, supply rooms, ammunition storage, parade grounds, an indoor firing range, and a huge indoor drill hall complete with spectator stands.

The Culver Road Armory was expanded mid-century to include a third story to accommodate the consolidation of Upstate cavalries.

Its post-cavalry function evolved into the Army Vehicle Maintenance Garages, where gasoline & diesel vehicle fuel was stored. The site included a vehicle repairs and maintenance garage, along with facilities for battery neutralization, disposal, vehicle paint, and body maintenance. As home to four National Guard units, Rochester city records show approved occupancy levels up to 2,500 persons for activities related to the drill hall, athletic events, and dinners during that time period. Other Federal operations included induction ceremonies held in the main building.

In 1947 the 209th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group obtained Federal status as the 898th automatic weapons Battalion led by Lt. Col. Hartley White of Rochester. Hundreds of military and nonmilitary persons would attend Troop F anniversary celebrations, including their Silver Anniversary, in the main Armory building with jazz bands and dinner.

The Armory in the early stages of its renovation, 10-2012

In 2012 the building, now decommissioned, began its transformation into a mixed-use development containing offices, retail space, and restaurants. The 100,000 square-foot space features such cutting-edge design elements as:

• Glowing frame-like vestibules at key entry conditions which extend through the façade;
  

• Large full height butt-glazed glass panels which bring a new and welcoming transparency to the building;
  

• A new museum-like glass and metal screen façade to enhance the exterior of the building.

Phase II commenced in November 2013. This entailed the construction of Armory Building 2, a retail/Class A office building that connects to another structure already on the Armory's property. This was completed in June 2014.¹

In October 2015 it was announced that the proposed condos were being replaced with a new retail/office building, which would feature a dramatic overhang across part of the highway.

• Arhaus - Furniture
  

• Boylan Code - Law
  

• Erdman Anthony - Engineering
  

• Evolution Pilates - Fitness studio
  

• Fleet Feet - Sports store
  

• Howe & Rusling
  

• Lumos - Infrared Suana
  

• MRB Group - Engineering
  

• Peppermint - Local designer
  

• Security Risk Advisors - Cyber Security Consulting
  

• Spoke Cycle and Fitness Studio
  

• TRATA - Restaurant
  

• Village Bakery & Cafe
  

• West Elm - Furniture and home decor

• The project expected to start by November and finish by winter of 2016 - RochesterFirst.com (2015-10-20)
  

• More retail headed to Culver Road Armory - Democrat and Chronicle (2015-10-06)

Comments:

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2015-10-08 19:09:34   Really great space and solid addition to Rochester - but the parking is ridiculous.

—smlusk

2015-10-08 19:18:35   Looks like there's more than enough to me. —EileenF