The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), recently announced plans to lease a new built-to-suit facility in St. Louis, MO to replace the Military Personnel Records Center and a portion of the Civilian Personnel Records Center. Initial occupancy of the new building is scheduled for March 2010.

The new facility will house the National Personnel Records Center. The Center contains 56 million personnel files of twentieth century military service veterans, and 25 million Federal civilian personnel files dating from the early twentieth century to the 1970s. All of these files are designated as permanent, historic records. Each year, a portion of the military personnel files are transferred from military services’ ownership to the legal custody of the National Archives, when 62 years has elapsed since an individual’s separation from service. Civilian personnel files will also be accessioned into National Archives custody in the near future.

In addition to records storage, the new facility will contain public research rooms, an archival preservation laboratory, public meeting rooms, and staff offices. Six hundred National Archives staff will work at the new building.