The grounds of the former Harrisburg State Hospital are heading for a makeover.
The Pennsylvania Department of General Services yesterday unveiled plans to build a $450 million laboratory complex on the 30-acre property, which has been mostly vacant since 2006.
The project includes a new $325 million, 300,000 square-foot joint lab to be shared among the Departments of Health, Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and Conservation and Natural Resources.
The lab is expected to open in late 2029.
The state also is planning to erect a $125 million, 90,000 square-foot forensics lab for the Pennsylvania State Police.
In addition, the state hopes to restore historical buildings on the site, including a museum, chapel and administrative office.
Site prep is slated to begin next year, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026.
The background: Dating back to 1845, the hospital was among the first state-run facilities to treat people with mental illness.
The hospital emptied out in the late 20th century in the wake of reforms calling for patients to be cared for in their home communities.
In the 2010s, the hospital grounds were pitched as a potential site for Amazon‘s second headquarters.
