On 28 March 2018, in the presence of Minister of Justice Dzintars Rasnačs, the reconstruction of the Zemgale District Court house in Tukums and the construction of an extension began with the ceremonial laying of a time capsule in the foundations of the new extension. Under the project, the facade of the existing building is planned to be restored, its functionality improved, and the total floor area of the court’s premises expanded to 1,500 m².
The reconstruction of the Zemgale District Court house in Tukums and the construction of the new extension is one of three projects launched last year by VAS “Tiesu namu aģentūra” (TNA), entrusted to the general partnership “Velve un Campaign”. According to the building design, the existing court building, which first opened its doors in 1882, will undergo facade reconstruction, interior redesign and rebuilding, as well as the installation of new sewerage, water supply, low-voltage and electrical power systems and replacement of the heating main.
“The court’s current premises no longer match the current number of staff, and they need to be modernized to provide a modern and convenient environment for visitors and staff. Over the course of the year, the Zemgale District Court house in Tukums will therefore undergo truly far-reaching changes. While preserving the court building’s historical volume and visual appearance, the interior will be redesigned, separate entrances for staff, escorts and visitors will be built, the court house’s infrastructure will be upgraded, energy efficiency will be improved, and a range of other extensive works will be carried out,” explains Ainārs Leitēns, Chairman of the Board of SIA “Velve”.
So that the Zemgale District Court in Tukums can fully perform its functions going forward, the project also provides for the construction of a 556 m² extension. The new building will house the court house’s registry office, a reading room and a consultation room for the defense; new holding cells will be built to ensure suitable short-term accommodation for defendants within the court building, a break room for the escort service, and the court house’s accessibility will be improved by installing a lift providing access to the courtrooms planned for the second floor.
“The project’s objective is to ensure the organization of the court’s work and the court’s accessibility for visitors under conditions that meet modern requirements. Several courtrooms will be fitted out in the new building, equipped with modern technology, including videoconferencing and sound recording equipment, and the court premises will be adapted for people with mobility impairments. At the same time, the design of the new court premises will take into account modern requirements for the layout of court buildings – the judges’ working area will be functionally separated from the public, or visitor, area”, emphasizes Santa Sausiņa, Board Member of VAS “Tiesu namu aģentūra”.
At the ceremonial time-capsule-laying event, which symbolically marks the start of construction and renovation works on the Zemgale District Court house in Tukums, Santa Sausiņa, head of VAS “Tiesu namu aģentūra”, expressed her deepest gratitude to everyone who took part in this far-from-simple project, particularly highlighting the successful cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the Court Administration, the responsible institutions of Tukums city, court staff, designers and contractors.
“Thanks to the trust placed by everyone involved in Tiesu namu aģentūra’s ideas, the ability to implement them and the professionalism of our staff, today we are creating lasting value, building premises that are comfortable for court staff and visitors and suited to the specifics of court work”, said Santa Sausiņa.
The implementation of three construction projects in the justice sector in Jēkabpils, Ventspils and Tukums, launched last year by VAS “Tiesu namu aģentūra”, has already been described as the most ambitious construction project in the history of Latvia’s justice sector to date. The total cost of the reconstruction and new-build project for the Zemgale District Court house in Tukums alone is estimated at EUR 1,918,861.12. Construction is planned to be completed by the end of 2018.
For additional information:
Ieva Šaripo
Marketing and Communications Manager, SIA “Velve”
M: +371 29488318
Aleksa Spriņģe
Communications Consultant, SIA “Velve”
M: +371 20604742