The project
Vision • Status • Process • Timeline • Voices of support
From historic landmark to community center
The Timothy Frost Church in Thetford Center, Vermont, served as a center of village life for more than 180 years until 2018, when it was turned over to the Town of Thetford.
Today, the Town and community are exploring how this historic building might be restored and given new purpose as a center for community engagement and social services for Thetford residents.
What could the Frost Center become?
A welcoming community space offering a variety of support services, events, and activities for all ages.
What could happen in this building?
Main Floor:
Community Gathering & Activities →Lower Level:
Community & Social Services →
Help shape the Frost Center
The Friends of Frost Advisory Group welcomes your ideas and is seeking people with specific skills and expertise as the project moves forward. We invite you to contact us and get involved.
Where the project stands
The Frost Center is currently in the design and planning phase.
The Town of Thetford recently hired Studio Nexus Architects and Planners to work with several engineering teams to conduct studies and develop a 100% Schematic Design package, including schematic drawings and specifications for the renovation and lower-level addition to the Frost Building.
The architects will work closely with a Construction Manager, soon to be engaged, to help ensure cost efficiency throughout the design process. The Construction Manager will then develop a comprehensive project budget for the Town’s review.
The process
1 - Foundation
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2 - Vision
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3 - Design
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4 - Community decision
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5 - Restoration
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1 - Foundation ✳︎ 2 - Vision ✳︎ 3 - Design ✳︎ 4 - Community decision ✳︎ 5 - Restoration ✳︎
Want a closer look?
View the full-size timeline PDF →
Project Timeline
From historic church to community center
The future of the Timothy Frost building has been the focus of a multi-year community effort. The project has grown from years of study and conversation into a plan for preserving this historic landmark and giving it a new purpose serving Thetford.
Here’s the timeline as of September 2026.
1 – FOUNDATION
Understanding the building and its possibilities
2019 — A historic gift to Thetford
The Timothy Frost Church is donated to the Town of Thetford, opening the possibility of a new chapter for this historic building.
2019–2026 — Exploring what comes next
Studies, research, community conversations and surveys explore possible uses for the building and help identify the needs it could serve.
2 – VISION
Shaping a new purpose for Frost
Fall 2025 — Friends of Frost forms
The Friends of Frost citizens advisory group begins working with the Selectboard and Town Manager to consider the future of the building—including restoration and repurposing as well as the alternative of replacing it with a new building.
Fall 2025–Spring 2026 — A vision takes shape
Drawing on community surveys and input from existing Town programs, Friends of Frost and the Town Manager develop a concept for the Frost Center for Community and Social Services.
Under the current concept, the main level would provide a flexible gathering space for community, public and private events.
A new lower level would provide space for Town social services, recreation programs, the Community Clothing Closet, staff and support facilities.
3 – DESIGN
Turning the vision into a workable plan
April 2026 — The design process begins
The Town seeks proposals from qualified architectural and engineering firms to develop schematic designs for the restoration and new lower level.
Summer 2026 — Building the project team
The Town evaluates architectural and engineering proposals and selects a design team. A Construction Manager is also brought into the process to help develop realistic project costs and identify cost-effective solutions.
Summer–Fall 2026 — From ideas to drawings
The architects and engineers work with the Town, Construction Manager and Friends of Frost to develop the design. The process considers floor plans, building systems, energy efficiency, accessibility, costs and the overall form and function of the restored Frost Center.
The Selectboard reviews the project as it develops, with opportunities for public information and input along the way.
November–December 2026 — Design and costs come together
The design team completes the Schematic Design package, followed by detailed project pricing from the Construction Manager, including alternatives and opportunities for cost savings.
4 – COMMUNITY DECISION
Determining whether to move forward
Winter 2026–27 — Preparing for Town Meeting
Friends of Frost works with the Town Manager and Selectboard to develop fundraising plans and present the proposed project, design and costs to the community.
March 2027 — The community weighs in
The Town Manager and Selectboard seek residents' support for the Frost Center project at Town Meeting.
Spring 2027 — Fundraising can begin
If the project is approved at Town Meeting, fundraising begins for final construction documents and construction.
5 – RESTORATION
From plans to a renewed Frost Center
2028–2029 — Preparing to build
As funding is secured, the architectural and engineering team develops final construction and building-permit documents. The project is then put out to bid and the Town selects a contractor.
Construction begins
With funding, permits and contracts in place, restoration of the Frost Center gets underway.
2030 — A new chapter could begin
Anticipated completion of the restored Frost Center for Community and Social Services—and the return of this historic Thetford building to active community use.
Voices of support
Thetford is aware and making a lot of efforts to reach out and support their community members. Having a place to start from as a hub for the social services and community needs would be extremely helpful. It would take the burden off the town searching for space once a week/month for people that need to meet or work on issues.
—Liz Carey, Senior Solutions, Social Services Coordinator for Thetford
“The Thetford Food Shelf volunteers look forward to considering the option of locating the food shelf operations in the Frost Building. We appreciate being included at the beginning of the design process to ensure our needs are met, including room to grow and a layout that better serves our operations, our customers, and the community. ”
“Having room in the Timothy Frost Building to store borrowable gear and uniforms would be a true game changer. Thetford Rec would also benefit from the conference room that is part of the plan for the Timothy Frost Building. We could offer talks by experts, art and craft classes, and many other classes. My main goal in this position is to offer more than what Thetford Rec has offered in the past and this space would be perfect to expand the options. I fully support the plans for the Frost Center and wait with anticipation for the spaces that will hopefully come to be.”
The Board of the Thetford Center Community Association is responsible for the care and maintenance of the Thetford Community Building which is located directly across VT Rte 113 from the proposed Frost Center. We are very excited about the proposals for a repurposed and restored Frost Building! We think that the additional office space for the town’s social services and a gathering space for larger events will be a great benefit to the town. The Frost Center, along with the new Village Store/Café (in addition to our thriving Community Center) will bring much needed and desired life and activity to our village center.
—Nicky Corrao, President
Thetford Center Community Association
“The Thetford Elder Network (TEN) looks forward to being located with other services in the renovated Frost building. We envision a comfortable space where seniors can gather to combat loneliness and share the challenges of their senior years as well as work on puzzles and watch their favorite TV programs. We ask that the TEN space be located near other town services that elders use, especially the Community Nurse, the Community Social Services Coordinator, and the Food Shelf. Because Thetford currently has no space for our seniors to gather, having a welcoming area open to all where our elders could hang out together and welcome guests of all ages is vitally important. Having it adjacent to needed services makes it even more useful.”
It would be wonderful for the Community Nurse to have regular access to office space in the Timothy Frost building. Having a small room where confidential conversations could be had, with a desk or table, wifi, a few chairs, and a file drawer that is lockable is all that would be needed. This room could be shared with others, including our community Social Services Coordinator and the Registered Nurse providing foot care services for seniors.
—Pril Hall, Board President, Community Nurse of Thetford, Inc.