In 1681, with the grant of a royal charter, William Penn founded Pennsylvania.

That historic document, preserved at the State Archives, will soon have a new home at the aptly numbered 1681 N. 6th Street.

The PA Department of General Services and PA Historical & Museum Commission selected a site proposed by Vartan Group, Inc. for the new State Archives building.

The site satisfied all the special requirements for the new State Archives, including site area (3+ acres), location near the Capitol Complex, outside the 500-year flood plain, and transportation and utility infrastructure.

Vartan Group, Inc. was appointed as the Commonwealth’s agent to amicably enter into agreements of sale with property owners. As a result of our successful efforts, the footprint of the site covers three city blocks.

We further assisted the Commonwealth with the pre-development phase, procuring site studies and technical reports.

Construction was completed and the complex celebrated its grand opening in 2023.

In the news:
>> “Pa.’s new State Archives, the ‘coolest building in state government,’ is now open,” Patriot-News/Pennlive, December 8, 2023.
>> “State Archives will relocate to $24M facility by 2020,” abc27 News, April 25, 2016.
>> “State archives moving to Midtown Harrisburg,” Central Penn Business Journal, April 25, 2016.
>> “Anatomy of a deal: Site selection for the new state archives building,” Central Penn Business Journal, May 11, 2016.

  • Municipality: City of Harrisburg (Dauphin County, PA)
  • Area: 3 acres