HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania on Monday awarded four construction contracts totaling $79.73 million for a multiyear overhaul of The State Museum of Pennsylvania, advancing the largest comprehensive upgrade to the Harrisburg complex since it opened in 1964.
The museum closed to the public Sunday as the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission moved the project from planning into construction. The work will modernize public areas, building systems and collections storage.
The Department of General Services awarded the largest contract, valued at $43.25 million, to Lancaster-based Wohlsen Construction Co. for general construction. Midline Mechanical LLC of Ephrata received a $16.05 million HVAC contract.
Cyprium Solutions Inc. of East Petersburg was awarded $14.03 million for electrical work, while Jay R. Reynolds Inc. of Willow Street received the $6.41 million plumbing contract.
“Awarding these bids marks a pivotal moment in the life of this project,” PHMC Executive Director Andrea Lowery stated. “We are officially transitioning from years of careful planning into the physical work of building tomorrow’s State Museum.”
The renovation will create a new lobby, introductory exhibit and media experience, along with a fifth-floor event space and roof terrace. Plans also call for new museum stores, upgraded visitor amenities and two 15-person elevators in the museum building.
The PHMC tower will receive two additional passenger elevators and an educational observation area on the 16th floor.
Preservation work includes new collections-storage areas with updated environmental controls and a changing-exhibit gallery capable of accommodating traveling exhibitions and borrowed artifacts.
PHMC held a community kickoff before the closure, providing free admission as the museum prepared for construction. The commission has not provided a reopening date, indicating that future phases will be announced as work progresses.
Project and reopening updates will be posted at statemuseumpa.org.
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