Unregulated court renovations: numerous judicial buildings undergoing new constructions amidst legal scrutiny - Construction Sites Transformed into Courthouses: Numerous Judicial Buildings Undergoing Renovations
Rewritten Article:
A Construction Site Rather Than a Courtroom: Renovations and Rebuilds Galore in Baden-Württemberg's Legal System
Behind the scenes of justice in Baden-Württemberg, there's been a construction frenzy. From pipes to roofs, corridors to walls, it's all about renovations, rebuilds, and new constructions in the southwest's courts and justice centers. Over the past few years, these spaces have been undergoing massive makeovers, with more projects on the horizon, costing tens of millions of euros.
Stuttgart's mammoth court complex, home to both the state and regional courts, leads the pack. This renovation isn't just the costliest but also the longest, both in terms of time and financial investment. As Markus Volz, the vice-president of Stuttgart's court, puts it, "One of Germany's largest courts is moving while still in operation."
A 55-year-old necessity
The wear and tear on these venerable buildings is evident: water damage, a supported facade, tottering ceilings, wooden plank pathways, and makeshift scaffold passages are all too common. Judges rush between courtrooms, consult in dim back rooms, and civil proceedings often take place in cramped spaces, with parties separated by a simple table.
"We've got too few rooms, and many of them are unusable," Volz lamented as he toured the corridors. "The building isn't a museum. Courts are an essential part of the justice system, and it needs to function."
A stack 'em high, knock 'em down approach won't cut it, so the state opted for a total overhaul. Over 450 judges and staff will relocate to a renovated office building on the Pragsattel for at least five years. The state acquired the temporary quarters in 2022.
Cost: hundreds of millions
According to Simon Schreiber, who heads the Stuttgart branch of the State Property and Construction Authority of Baden-Württemberg, the estimated costs for this move, interim solution, renovation, and new construction will be around 250 million euros over the next decade or so.
The plan: Along with the state court, pieces of the regional court and the constitutional court, which hears complaints from members of the state parliament or political factions if they feel their state constitution rights have been violated, will also relocate. The so-called banking and insurance chambers will be the first to go, with completion expected by the end of this year, followed by the remainder and parts of the OLG (Higher Regional Court) approximately a year later. The demolition crew will then swing into action to clear the current parking area for expansion.
"Once finished, there will be 17 halls for both civil and criminal cases, ranging from around 60 to around 400 square meters," Schreiber explained.
Stuttgart's construction spree is just one of several large renovation projects underway in Baden-Württemberg's court system.
A quick tour:
HEILBRONN: Since May 2021, the Heilbronn Justice Center Fleiner Tor, or the Court of First Instance, has been under construction. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, it's set to be done by spring 2028, with construction costs totaling 18.1 million euros. Workers are currently housed in a separate building. Not done yet: A new Regional Court is also planned for the site by the end of the decade, with the current Regional Court being handed over to the Court of First Instance.
TUTTLINGEN: Completed in February 2024, an extension building for the Tuttlingen Court of First Instance, with a cost of around 6.4 million euros, now stands. However, the existing building will still be renovated starting in summer, at a cost of 8.2 million euros. Court proceedings will take place in containers until the handover, which will take place two years later.
BÖBLINGEN: Recent work at the Court of First Instance involved a core-service upgrade and room expansions, costing around 17.75 million euros. The criminal court moved into prefabricated containers and temporarily used the police cells while the work was underway.
FREIBURG: Since February 2022, the new Justice Center at Holzmarkt has been in operation. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Finance described the project, which cost approximately 31 million euros, as consisting of an extension building, the renovation and restructuring of the existing building. Today, the Court of First Instance and the Public Prosecutor's Office are in these rooms.
Plans for the Courts of First Instance in Singen, Pforzheim, and Waiblingen are also in the works, according to the Ministry of Finance.
Now, let's dive into what a project like this might entail, potential challenges, and insights from various sources:
Project Planning and Costs: Court renovations and construction projects involve aiming for improved accessibility, enhanced security, and boosted efficiency. Costs vary widely, from technology upgrades to compliance with accessibility regulations and far beyond.
Accessibility Improvements: With the upcoming Accessibility Improvement Act in Germany, due to come into force on June 28, 2025, courts might need to undertake renovations to meet new accessibility standards.
Data Protection Considerations: Given the recent judgment from the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart regarding data protection, courts in Baden-Württemberg would need to ensure compliance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) standards during renovations or construction, likely involving costs for data security upgrades.
Doing a deep dive on specific projects, costs, and timelines would require consulting local government announcements and official construction and infrastructure reports from Baden-Württemberg.
- The renovation of Stuttgart's court complex, underway since the court is still in operation, follows community law principles, aligning with competition policy that prioritizes efficient and fair justice systems.
- The massive renovation projects in Baden-Württemberg's court system, such as the one in Stuttgart, are not exclusive to Germany; they are part of a broader trend in constitutional democracies where millions are spent to update aged infrastructure and ensure the smooth functioning of legal systems.
- The completion of the Stuttgart court complex renovation, expected in the coming years, will strategically position the constitutional court to effectively address complaints related to the state's constitution, furthering the principles of fair competition and legal harmony within Baden-Württemberg's community law framework.
