State Parliament to Remain a Construction Site Until 2037 — Costs Up to 450 Million Euros

The extensive construction work on the Saxon State Parliament is expected to take more than a decade. Costs of up to 450.1 million euros have been budgeted for the expansion and renovation of the existing buildings. Just under a third of this amount is earmarked as a contingency reserve to cushion the impact of rising construction costs until the project’s expected completion in 2037, as Finance Minister Christian Piwarz (CDU) stated during the presentation of the plans. 

According to current plans, construction costs are expected to total 317.2 million euros. The largest cost item is the comprehensive renovation of the old and new buildings (202.2 million euros), which will include, among other things, upgrading the 30-year-old IT network to the latest standards. The extension, which is being built on an open space on the banks of the Elbe directly next to the plenary hall, is expected to cost 73.6 million euros. The new cube in the state parliament’s courtyard is estimated to cost 38.6 million euros.

Two new buildings for more space

The two new buildings will provide much-needed space for the parliamentary caucuses, the state parliament administration, and additional meeting rooms. They will also serve as temporary quarters during the renovation work on the existing buildings. State Parliament operations will continue on-site throughout the entire construction period; there will be no temporary relocation to an external building.

“The goal is to bring the buildings up to modern standards, both in terms of their physical condition and their IT capabilities,” summarized State Parliament President Alexander Dierks. The shortage of space is also to be addressed. According to Dierks, the State Parliament currently rents nearly 4,000 square meters of external office space for its administration. There are also not enough rooms for the six parliamentary caucuses; for example, the Left currently has no permanent caucus room.

Slow Internet and Leaky Ceilings

The renovation of the buildings has been under discussion since 2014. The State Parliament’s Presidium passed the resolution in 2022 after years of debate over various implementation options. 

From a fallen doorknob on the main entrance door to internet connections in lawmakers’ offices that are too slow for video conferences, to leaking ceilings in the dining hall and broken sunshades on the glass facade of the plenary chamber: The list of defects made it clear just how great the need for modernization is. “The problems have become so extensive that the situation is hardly tenable anymore,” emphasized Jens Kochanow from the building management department.