The County of Berks announced plans to acquire the building at 600 Penn Street in downtown Reading, with the goal of creating a centralized County Government Center and addressing long-term infrastructure needs across its facilities.
County officials said the proposed purchase of the former Wells Fargo building—once home to Pomeroy’s department store—comes after several years of planning related to renovations at both the Berks County Services Center and the Berks County Courthouse.
The Services Center, built in the mid-1990s, is approaching its first major renovation, while the courthouse, a significantly older structure, would require extensive upgrades. According to the county, estimates to modernize the courthouse have exceeded $130 million, driven in part by the complexity of updating nearly 19 floors of aging infrastructure to meet current building codes.
After reviewing options, county commissioners and administrators determined that acquiring 600 Penn Street would provide a more practical and cost-effective solution. The plan calls for consolidating most non-judicial departments into the Penn Street building, creating a modern workspace while maintaining government operations within the county seat.
Under the proposal, the existing Services Center would be repurposed into a dedicated Judicial Center. That shift would allow for the relocation of courts, judges’ chambers, court administration, the Sheriff’s Office, and other related services currently housed in the courthouse.
Officials said the approach would create a more reliable and secure environment for court operations and the public, while also providing flexibility in the event the current courthouse becomes unusable due to infrastructure issues.
From a financial perspective, the county estimates the acquisition could avoid approximately $70 million in future costs by eliminating the need for phased courthouse renovations. The plan is also expected to reduce disruptions to court services and daily operations that would occur during a multi-year renovation process.
Departments slated to move to 600 Penn Street include the Solicitor’s Office, Human Resources, Budget and Finance, Purchasing, Recorder of Deeds, Treasurer, Tax Claim, Controller, County Commissioners, Operations/Chief Operating Officer, Election Services, Chief Clerk, Public Relations, and Children and Youth Services.
County officials said the proposal reflects a broader effort to modernize facilities while maintaining fiscal responsibility and ensuring continuity of services for residents.
