New Palace of Justice of Coimbra must respond to needs

“ Nit must be a short-term court: we must think of a Court that Coimbra will need in the coming decades. It must necessarily be a functional, safe, technologically prepared and capable of following the evolution of justice”, said Vânia Magalhães.

In statements to the agency Lusa, the magistrate classified the new Palace of Justice as a central issue for Coimbra and expressed the intention to closely monitor the evolution of the process.

“The Palace issue is a central issue for Coimbra. It has always been for decades.”.

According to the judge-president, who took office about a month ago, the current dispersion of judicial services throughout the city of Coimbra creates difficulties for professionals and citizens, making an integrated solution essential.

“ This dispersion of judicial services throughout the city has concrete consequences and in the day-to-day life of those who work in the courts and who address the courts”.

Therefore, he argued that the project should not be limited to the construction of a new building, which serves only those who work there, but also those who address it, with the appropriate accessibility and signs.

In summer, there was “the selection of the designer”, and it is now essential to accompany and ensure that the future Palace of Justice corresponds to the justice that Coimbra intends to provide in the future.

“ We now have the responsibility to contribute to the future Coimbra Palace of Justice, not to the needs of today, but to the justice that we want to provide in the future”, he explained.

As for the timetable for the construction of the new Palace of Justice, Vânia Magalhães does not hide that she loved to open the building during her term.

“I don’t know whether or not this will be possible. The mandates are three years, subject to renewal of three, it may be difficult, but I hope that very broad steps will be taken in the project ", concluded.

The Coimbra Chamber unanimously approved, in early July, the proposal to award the elaboration of architectural projects and specialties of the future Palace of Justice.

The proposal provides for the award to Vítor Hugo, who won the international competition with a bid of EUR 393,000.

The object of the contract is the preparation of the project for the execution of the new building of the Palace of Justice, within 330 days (120 days to present the previous study and 220 days for the execution project).