U.S. Energy Development Corp.
The Armour Building is a 50,000-square-foot, three-story property in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
U.S. Energy Development Corporation, a Fort Worth-based exploration and production company marking its 45th anniversary, has been honored by Historic Fort Worth Inc. with a Preservation Project Award for the restoration of its headquarters — the historic Armour Building in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The award was presented Oct. 16 during Historic Fort Worth’s annual ceremony recognizing preservation excellence. Representatives from USEDC, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company (general contractor) and Bennett Partners (architect and interior designer) accepted the award.
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“The Armour Building is more than just an important landmark in the Fort Worth Stockyards. It’s a living symbol of Fort Worth’s resilience and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Jordan Jayson, CEO and chairman of USEDC, in a statement. “Preserving and revitalizing this historic site allows us to honor Fort Worth’s past while contributing to its future as a thriving, connected, and forward-looking city.”
Armour and Swift established their Fort Worth meatpacking plants along East Exchange Avenue in 1902, transforming the area into a hub of industrial growth. Armour & Co. operated on the north side of the street, while Swift & Co. occupied the south side.
The Armour complex originally consisted of eight interconnected linear buildings, arranged along a central drive that also carried rail lines to service the facility. The project drew on local craftsmanship. Acme Brick’s Bennett Plant supplied the brick, and Fort Worth Mayor William Bryce’s construction firm played a key role in building the plant, according to Fort Worth Architecture.
Following the award presentation, USEDC hosted an Armour Celebration at the building on Oct. 18, bringing together company owners, employees, and project partners to commemorate the restoration and share the space with their families.
Located at 601 East Exchange Avenue, the Armour Building is the last remaining structure from the historic Armour & Co. Packing Plant, a cornerstone of Fort Worth’s early 20th-century meatpacking industry. Designed in the International Style, the building has long stood as a monument to industrial innovation and the city’s economic heritage.
Whiting-Turner and Bennett Partners preserved key architectural elements while modernizing the space for contemporary business use. U.S. Property Development, a USEDC affiliate, consulted on the project and now manages the property.