Pennsylvania officials broke ground on a new Pennsylvania State Police Academy this month, unveiling design plans for the world-class law enforcement training facility.

The modernization project replaces outdated infrastructure with state-of-the-art facilities, representing the most comprehensive update to the academy since it opened in 1960.

Multiple new buildings totaling 366,000 square feet are proposed for the 146-acre site in Hershey, including a five-story Marquee Building with modern classrooms and administrative offices, 300 individual cadet dormitories, a 500-seat auditorium, and a spacious cafeteria.

A physical education building with two gymnasiums, a training tank, and a weight room will provide space and equipment for self-defense training, water safety courses, and fitness conditioning. Indoor and outdoor tactical villages will host simulations of high-risk incidents such as active shooters, hostage situations, and barricaded suspects.

The existing academy will remain operational throughout construction, which is scheduled to begin immediately. The project includes demolition of several existing structures and is expected to be complete in 2028.

Next year marks 100 years of training recruits in Hershey. The Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol secured the use of the former Hershey Inn, on Cocoa Avenue, from Milton S. Hershey and began training there in 1924. The Highway Patrol merged with the State Police in 1937. The training school remained at the site until 1960.

The state awarded a $205.5 million general construction contract to Wohlsen Construction Company, of Lancaster; a $37 million HVAC contract to Midline Mechanical LLC of Ephrata; and a $35.7 million electrical contract to The Farfield Company, of Lititz;,

In the 2023-24 budget, Gov. Josh Shapiro secured new funding for four trooper cadet classes to train 384 new troopers, filling staffing gaps and ensuring that the PSP are well-funded and well-trained. In August, Shapiro and Colonel Paris announced that the PSP would remove the college credit requirement for Pennsylvanians who want to serve as state troopers to expand opportunity for people seeking careers as state troopers. In the two months following that announcement, the PSP saw a 258% increase in applicants taking the test to become state troopers.