Old City Hall Apartments represent an important transformation of a historic building located in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A piece of history that might otherwise have been lost or destroyed has instead become an important part of the present and future of the city and community.
Technical High School & Old City Hall
The oldest public school in Harrisburg opened in 1830. This building was replaced in 1910 by a building and institution that became known at “Old Tech” and would graduate classes and individuals that went on to define the early community of Harrisburg. The building’s use as a school ended in the 1920’s when it was sold to the City of Harrisburg for conversion to the first City Hall.
This new City Hall had marble-clad hallways and grand stairways, serving the Harrisburg government until the City Government Center on Market Square was completed in 1982. A period of transition left the building vulnerable and could have been lost but it was instead transformed into the Old City Hall Apartments. Offering newly renovated studios and one-bedroom lofts for rent with oversized windows and a washer and dryer in every unit, it has become one of the most popular rental locations in the city.
Residing directly across from Capitol Park and the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex, the third generation of the building is serving a very different purpose from the previous versions. This flexibility showcases how landmarks can transform across multiple eras while preserving the history they represent.
Saving History by Transforming It
Located within walking distance of popular Harrisburg restaurants, museums and the Susquehanna River, Old City Hall Apartments have become an ideal home for many Harrisburg residents. This development showcases not only what it can mean for an established landmark to become part of a community in a very different way but also what it can mean to save history by transforming it.
