Pennsylvania Judicial Center
The Pennsylvania Judicial Center, located in Harrisburg’s historic capitol complex, serves as the administrative center for Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System and the home of the Commonwealth Court.
Successfully complementing the historic architecture of the State Capitol Building and five companion buildings to the Capitol, the Judicial Center blends contemporary and classical styles and is constructed to withstand the test of time, both aesthetically and structurally. At once, it serves as a “courthouse” for Commonwealth Court, a conference and education center for the judiciary, and an office building consolidating the judicial system’s administrative offices that previously had been geographically dispersed.
Planning for the building began in 2001 under the leadership of former Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy and then-Governor Tom Ridge. Construction drawings were unveiled by Governor Edward G. Rendell and Chief Justice Cappy in 2004. Construction began in 2006 and the judicial center opened in May 2009 with a December 2009 dedication by Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and Lt. Governor Joseph B. Scarnati III. The Pennsylvania Judicial Center was designed by Philadelphia architecture and engineering firm VITETTA.