Renovation of the State Chancellery further delayed - Renovation of the State Chancellery further delayed
Thuringia’s historic State Chancellery renovation is now expected to finish in 2027, three years later than originally planned. Costs have also risen sharply, climbing from €26 million in 2020 to around €36 million today. Officials cite unexpected structural issues and soaring construction expenses as key reasons for the setbacks.
The State Chancellery sits within a protected Renaissance-era complex, later expanded into a Baroque-style building with four wings surrounding a courtyard. Renovation planning first began in 2014 under a coalition of the Left Party, SPD, and Greens. By 2020, the north wing had been completed, but further work has since faced repeated delays.
Structural damage uncovered during construction, combined with rising material costs from the pandemic and Ukraine war, have pushed back timelines. The latest estimates suggest additional office spaces will be ready by mid-2026, but full completion is now set for 2027. After the project finishes, Thuringia’s Court of Auditors will review the causes of the cost increases and delays. The current CDU/BSW/SPD government has pledged to streamline future construction in the region. Proposed measures include faster project approvals and reduced building standards to avoid similar setbacks.
The renovation’s final bill is now €10 million over the original budget, with completion delayed by several years. Once finished, the State Chancellery will house modernised offices within its centuries-old walls. An independent audit will later examine how costs escalated and why deadlines were missed.
