Vermont Business Magazine The opening Friday of the newest US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center (VSC) building, near the IBM campus in Essex, is a continuation of the agency’s effort to provide efficient services to those seeking immigration benefits. The $3.9 million facility houses approximately 275 employees. The VSC handles family-based petitions; requests for humanitarian visas, such as immigration relief for victims of crime or trafficking; and a range of benefits related to work petitions for entertainers, athletes, and specialty occupations.
Lori Scialabba, the Acting Director of the USCIS, came up from Washington to help cut the ribbon on the new Essex facility. Sandra Bushey, chief of staff of the Vermont Service Center, listens. VBM photos.
The 54,000-square-foot facility is a state-of-the-art facility that meets the latest security standards while incorporating sustainability criteria of GSA, one of the agency’s key priorities of making a more sustainable government. This facility is expected to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver designation and Energy Star certification. The building is owned by Pizzagalli Properties, LLC.
This new facility provides the space necessary to support the growing USCIS workload. Prior to the availability of this facility, the VSC at 30 River Road was operating with a second shift due to the limited space available. This need for the second shift ended with the move into this new space.
USCIS Vermont Service Center employs more than 1,400 federal and contract employees. The VSC is one of four USCIS service centers in the United States. USCIS Service Centers handle nearly 5 million immigration cases annually. All USCIS Service Centers are mail-based facilities that decide immigration cases that do not require in-person interviews.
Essex is the largest town in Vermont, and the second-largest municipality (after Burlington). This project was responsible for creating 200 indirect new jobs within the community and surrounding area.
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Building Features |
- 54,081 RSF / 52,388 USF OF Class A Office and Warehouse Space
- 300 Parking Spaces
- Loading Dock
- Open office planning for more than 200 staff
- East and West Clerestory windows in large open area for enhanced daylighting
- Energy efficient facility
- State of the art window systems
- Building entry has an air curtain to reduce cold weather intrusion
- Sophisticated security and environmental systems
- Ample meeting and training space
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Building Occupant |
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - sole tenant
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Building Building Size Total Project Cost |
$3,912,239 54,081 RSF $3,912,240
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Contractors: Pizzagalli Construction, Cole Electric, Vermont Mechanical, Omega Site Development, A.C. Hathorne Roofing. |
Feasibility Study GSA
Architect of Record: Weimann Lamphere Associates
Construction Manager: Pizzagalli Construction
General Contractor Pizzagalli Construction
Commissioning Agent Thomas Engineering Associates
