MADISON, Wis. — State officials plan to build a new $46.7 million archive preservation facility for the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in downtown Madison.

The state Building Commission on Wednesday approved demolishing the Central Services Facility and replacing it with a new 189,000-square-foot facility at its meeting Wednesday, the Wisconsin State Journal reported Thursday (http://tiny.cc/6i7h1w).

The building, locate a few blocks east of the Capitol, is about 100 years old and is used for mail handling and printing services.

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin says the state has been working closely with the city on the conceptual design of the new building.

The state has been trying to find a new location for its archives for several years because current storage spaces are too small and lack needed infrastructure and support services.

Officials have tried to find a new location for its archives for several years because current storage spaces are too small and lack needed infrastructure and support services, according to a Department of Administration report.

The combined value of the Historical Society and Veterans Museum materials is about $1.2 billion, the report said.

The archives are now stored at the museums or the Historical Society building on the UW-Madison campus, said state Sen. Fred Risser, a member of the Building Commissioner.

The proposed facility would include a four-story archive preservation wing, two-story processing wing, a Native American suite and central office space.