Agency outlines multi‑phase renovation and operational plan for Vermont Building at the Big E

The Senate Institutions Committee received a multi‑part renovation and operations briefing on the Vermont Building at the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, Mass., commonly referred to in the presentation as the Vermont Building at the Big E.

Trevor Lowell, assistant director of the development division at the Agency of Agriculture, described the building’s role on the Avenue of the States and the marketing value the fair provides to Vermont businesses. He said the building is state‑owned, was built in 1929, and supports vendor programming across the 17‑day fair; slides presented peak attendance and vendor metrics.

Lowell and project staff described the vendor selection process (applications via WebGrants, scored by a three‑person rubric, then reviewed in a committee) and contract lengths (1‑, 2‑ and 3‑year terms, with most vendors starting on one‑year contracts). They said staff conduct post‑fair vendor surveys and track daily sales to better understand vendor outcomes, while acknowledging causal attribution to long‑term sales is imprecise.

Project manager Jess (Jessica) Hine of Building & General Services summarized renovation phases and budget: the biennium request totals $6,000,000; phase 1 has spent $3,000,000 and the balance remaining is $2,900,000. Hine said phase 2 will focus on mechanical and electrical work, starting with upgrading undersized service and overloaded panels, and will add an ADA vendor restroom and work on rear overhead doors and plumbing to meet Massachusetts code requirements (the Vermont Building must follow Massachusetts code because it sits in Massachusetts). Phase 3 will continue interior rehabilitation and add an ADA kitchen for vendors; the plan is to complete the majority of visible exterior restoration and most interior work ahead of the building’s centennial.

Presenters emphasized operational constraints and safety risks from deferred maintenance: the building currently operates on a 300‑amp service that staff said is near capacity during fair days, limiting what vendors can bring and creating a risk of panel overload; years of leaks and localized structural fixes have left accessibility and restroom access problems for vendors and staff. Lowell highlighted the building’s economic role for small businesses and described success stories where vendor exposure at the fair supported business growth.

Procurement and schedule details: staff said they plan to hire a construction manager to carry both phases through completion and presented a multi‑bar schedule that places final milestones at the centennial. They asked the committee for continued oversight and said they will return with more detailed design and contracting updates next year.

Next steps: continue design and procurement for phase 2, pursue construction management procurement, and report progress to the committee as construction and major procurements proceed.