On Thursday, 10 May, the first stage of the construction project was marked at the Jēkabpils court house construction site with a symbolic time capsule being set into the building’s foundations. All construction works are planned to be completed at the beginning of summer next year, and the total construction costs are estimated at approximately 6.8 million euro. The project’s development stage has also prompted the parties involved to sign a letter of intent on exchanging several Jēkabpils justice-sector buildings and land ownership, with the aim of increasing the efficiency of real estate management.
In the presence of the Minister of Justice Dzintars Rasnačs, VAS “Tiesu namu aģentūra” board member Santa Sausiņa, Chairman of the Jēkabpils City Council Raivis Ragainis and SIA “Arčers” board member Maija Baltgalve, a message to future generations was set into the foundations of the future building, as is customary during the zero-cycle stage of the construction process.
“Exactly a year from now, the doors of a new and modern court house will open. All structural units of the justice sector will be located in the new judicial administrative centre. This will make it possible to receive the services of all justice institutions in one place – services will become more accessible and convenient for residents,” says Minister of Justice Dzintars Rasnačs, emphasizing the project’s significance.
The new court house will be home to several institutions subordinate to the Ministry of Justice, forming a new administrative centre for receiving services. Spread over approximately 5500 square metres on three floors will be the Zemgale District Court in Jēkabpils, the Jēkabpils Land Register Office, the Jēkabpils Prosecutor’s Office, the Jēkabpils regional branch of the Enterprise Register, the State Land Service, the State Language Centre, the State Probation Service, the Civil Registry Office and the Justice Sector Archive.
“This year Tiesu namu aģentūra has begun three ambitious construction projects in different Latvian cities – in Tukums, Ventspils and now also in Jēkabpils – in order to create infrastructure and working premises for those employed in the justice system that meet modern requirements. Jēkabpils is the most ambitious of the three projects, with total investment of approximately 6.8 million euro. This project is unique in the justice sector, as Jēkabpils will be the first place where all justice-sector institutions are located in a single building, meaning the services they provide will be accessible to visitors in one place. We plan to complete all the works at the beginning of summer 2019,” says VAS “Tiesu namu aģentūra” board member Santa Sausiņa.
Jēkabpils City Council Chairman Raivis Ragainis: “We are pleased that the residents of Jēkabpils will be provided with quality services in new and modern premises. It is also important to mention that the institutions currently planned for the new court house are located practically all over the city, so building a new, spacious building will make everyday matters easier for residents. Thank you to Tiesu namu aģentūra for choosing our city for this administrative centre, out of care for the people of Jēkabpils.”
During the event, SIA “Arčers” board member Maija Baltgalve especially praised the client’s decision to require the contractor to carry out the building’s design and construction using BIM, or Building Information Modelling. ““Tiesu namu aģentūra” has boldly declared that it wants to be among the pioneers among state capital companies – working with future technologies in construction and building management. Thanks to the client’s forward-looking plan, the new court house will become not only the city’s administrative centre but also a centre of knowledge for mastering the BIM system. “Arčers” is currently also working in a BIM environment elsewhere in Latvia, so I can say with confidence that the system will also help save time and financial resources at the new court house, both during construction and while the building is in operation,” says M. Baltgalve on the effectiveness of BIM.
The most active work currently underway at the construction site relates to pouring concrete for the building’s load-bearing frame, as well as the construction of external utility networks. This is planned to be completed by the end of summer, so that roof installation can begin in autumn.
The building’s client is VAS “Tiesu namu aģentūra”, design, construction and author’s supervision are carried out by SIA “Arčers”, and the project’s total cost is approximately 6.8 million euro. The building’s floor area will be approximately 5500 square metres on a 13.3 thousand square-metre plot of land.
Further information:
VAS “Tiesu namu aģentūra”
Santa Sausiņa,
TNA board member
Tel.: +371 6780 4733
E-mail: santa.sausina@tna.lv
General contractor for the project, SIA “Arčers”
Ilga Sokolova,
Public Relations Specialist
Tel.: 28294484
E-mail: ilga.sokolova@arcers.lv
Jēkabpils City Council
Ieva Lapiņa,
Deputy Head of the Public Relations Department
Tel.: 20288054
E-mail: ieva.lapina@jekabpils.lv