Vester Allé 12 was constructed between 1898 and 1902 as the home of the newly established State Library.

[3] In 2011 Aarhus City Council had established the Aarhus City Archives with the goal of preserving local history and it moved into Vester Allé 12 which it shared with the Business Archive in close cooperation.

In late 2015 the Business Archive was moved to Viborg due to a desire to centralize operations.

The archives were established in 2011 but operates under a set of regulations adopted in 2013 by the Aarhus City Council.

The building is in National Romantic and historicist style, constructed from red bricks of lime and sandstone with a hip roof and a balcony.

The interior features designs by sculptor Karl Hansen Reistrup who also contributed to Aarhus Theatre.