VAS Tiesu namu aģentūra (TNA) has begun implementing three major construction projects in the justice sector in Jēkabpils, Ventspils and Tukums. The Jēkabpils project involves the design and construction of a new, modern Justice House, which will also serve as a client service centre for several institutions, while in Ventspils and Tukums the existing court buildings will be renovated and new extensions built.
Santa Sausiņa, TNA Board Member: “TNA has begun implementing three major and significant restoration and construction projects for the needs of the justice sector. They mark a modern approach to organizing the daily work of the justice system and serving residents, since the courts in question require additional premises, as well as the rebuilding of existing premises, so that working conditions meet the requirements of modern administration and work organization for staff, in an environment convenient for residents. The projects will be fully financed from TNA’s own operating funds.”
The new Justice House in Jēkabpils is planned to house all justice-sector institutions in a single building – the Jēkabpils District Court, the Land Register division of the Jēkabpils District Court, and the Jēkabpils District Prosecutor’s Office. It is also envisaged to house divisions of several institutions subordinate to the Ministry of Justice – the Enterprise Register, the State Land Service, the State Probation Service and the State Language Centre.
TNA representative Gints Liepaskalns notes that “the new Justice House in Jēkabpils is by far the most ambitious and complex construction project in the history of Latvia’s justice sector. It will be not only a court house, but also a modern administrative centre that will make the services of all the institutions more convenient for residents, as well as considerably ease the work of state and municipal institutions.“
The joint client service function of the Justice House in this building is also planned to include other
state and municipal institutions and their representative offices that are important to Jēkabpils residents, such as the State Revenue Service, the State Social Insurance Agency, the State Employment Agency, and the Rural Support Service.
The Justice House is planned to be built on the site between Neretas, Bebru and Auseklīša streets. Construction is planned to begin this spring and be completed in 2018. The new Justice House’s planned floor area is 4,000 square metres. The building’s design, construction and author’s supervision in Jēkabpils will be carried out by SIA Arčers; the total construction cost is EUR 6,270,027 excluding VAT.
The premises currently used by the district court in Tukums, covering 991 square metres, no longer match the number of staff, and there is no separation between public and restricted zones. As part of the court house development project, the existing premises are planned to be repaired and renovated, and the total floor area expanded to 1,500 square metres. The project provides for adapting the existing premises to the specifics and needs of court work.
The district court building is located in Tukums, at Pils iela 16. Design and construction work, as well as reconstruction of the old court building, will be carried out by SIA Velve un Campaign. The total project cost is planned at EUR 1,918,861.12. Construction of the project is planned to be completed by the end of 2018.
The renovation project for the Ventspils court building at Katrīnas iela 14 involves restoring and expanding the existing premises from 1,008 square metres to 1,600 square metres. The Ventspils court currently occupies two properties, which do not provide a sufficient number of courtrooms or floor area for the current number of staff.
The planned solution will be modern; all courtrooms will be located in the new building, with judges’ working premises above them. All public areas will be provided with convenient access (including for people with mobility or visual impairments), and the judges’ working areas will be separated from the public area. The escort process will also be provided with a separate entrance and separately designated premises, so that persons being escorted to the courtroom are brought to premises specifically intended for this purpose, without entering the public area. Following its rebuilding and reconstruction, the old building will be adapted solely for the working needs of court staff and judges.
The design, construction, repair and restoration works for the Ventspils court will be carried out by AS Būvūzņēmums Restaurators un Campaign. The total project cost is planned at EUR 1,967,636.22, with a completion deadline of end of 2018.
All three projects involve significant changes to the daily work organization of justice-sector institutions, including improvements to working conditions, safety, productivity and accessibility of services. After evaluating the benefits, similar experience is planned to be applied in other justice-sector institutions in Latvia in the future.
The State joint-stock company Tiesu namu aģentūra (TNA) was established in 1997. TNA is a commercial company whose shares are 100% owned by the state. TNA’s core activities include managing, maintaining and administering the real estate held by the Ministry of Justice, ensuring the operation of IT infrastructure, as well as publishing legal training and educational literature, legal acts and compilations thereof, and compilations of court rulings.
Additional information:
Santa Sausiņa,
Board Member of TNA
Phone: +371 6780 4733
E-mail: santa.sausina@tna.lv