General Services Administration receives $9 million to design a new facility for National Archives in the Puget Sound

March 27, 2024

TACOMA, Wash. – On Saturday, President Biden signed a funding bill that includes a $9 million investment in the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) continued presence in Seattle. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will receive $9 million to design a new, federally-owned facility for NARA to continue to house archival records of critical and historic importance to local and state agencies, Tribal Nations, higher education institutions, researchers, scientists, and students.

“We are proud to partner with the National Archives to ensure they have a new, modern, and permanent facility in the Pacific Northwest,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “Investments like these ensure the safety of the federal workforce, protect the heritage of Tribal nations in the region, and support NARA’s mission for years to come.”

“We are grateful that the latest Congressional budget has provided the funding to pursue a design for the next Seattle home of the National Archives, and we are excited to work closely with the General Services Administration on its development,” said William J. Bosanko, Deputy Archivist of the United States. “Together, we will prepare to ensure the preservation of these federal records and make them available for use by communities across the Pacific Northwest. Taking into account location, accessibility, and the responsibility to create optimal conditions for records storage, the National Archives and GSA will work closely to meet the needs of all of our stakeholders.”

“The generations of history and artifacts stored in the Seattle Archives facility are critical to telling the story of the Pacific Northwest, especially for Tribes in our region – which is why I’ve fought to ensure these records remain accessible to folks here in Washington state,” said Senator Patty Murray. “President Biden and his administration have been great partners as we work toward a long-term solution that keeps the records in the Seattle area – and I’m thrilled that, as Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I was able to write into this year’s government funding bills $9 million for the planning and design of a new, long-term National Archives facility in the region. We had to write this bill under really tough funding caps, and every dollar counted – I made clear that the Archives had to be a priority and I’ll keep working to support the preservation of our region’s history and culture.”

The current National Archives facility in the Sand Point neighborhood of Seattle stores more than 58,000 cubic feet of archival records available for use by the public. The facility was constructed in 1946 and, due to its age, is nearing the end of its suitability for archival use. Archival records must be stored within strict temperature and humidity standards at all times and require higher standards for fire protection, interior lighting, and physical security. 

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

About NARA: The National Archives and Records Administration is the nation’s record keeper. It safeguards and manages the official records of the U.S. Government, ensuring the documentation of our nation’s history. For more information, visit www.archives.gov.