New premises for Bratislava III and IV municipal courts: the BBC 1 Plus will become a court building

As part of the reform of the court map, the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic has decided to provide modern and efficient premises for the Bratislava III and IV municipal courts. The Ministry has selected the BBC 1 Plus building in the Mlynské Nivy zone in Bratislava from among three offers. This 12-storey office building, known as the first LEED Gold certified project on the Slovak market, was chosen based on the court's needs, the modern standard and the economic efficiency it brings.

Financing and operational savings

The purchase of the BBC 1 Plus building will cost the state €56.4 million, with funding coming from two sources: €46.2 million will be covered by the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the remaining €9.5 million from the state budget. The choice of BBC 1 Plus will result in up to 40% lower operating costs compared to cheaper alternatives, which will significantly reduce the building's management costs in the long term.

An additional investment of EUR 0.9 million will provide the necessary technical adaptations as well as a shelving system for the archives to ensure that the building meets all the requirements of the courts. With this step, the Ministry will ensure that the courts not only have an efficient but also a modern space for their daily operations.

Long-term savings and freeing up existing space

Once the courts have moved into BBC 1 Plus, it will be possible to cancel the lease of the premises on Medená Street, saving the state EUR 0.6 million per year. In addition, three state-owned buildings will be vacated, one of which the Bratislava Administrative Court plans to use after reconstruction. The other two buildings are still awaiting a final decision on their future use.

Discussion on the symbolism of court buildings

Although BBC 1 Plus offers an efficient and modern solution, some experts question whether an important institution such as a court should have its own representative building. Courts, as an important part of state power, can symbolise the values and stability of a country through their architecture. Placing the courts in an ordinary administrative building, according to critics, diminishes this symbolic aspect.

Moving the Bratislava III and IV municipal courts to the BBC 1 Plus building provides a practical, modern and economically viable solution. The investment in quality court infrastructure reflects the state's desire to use public resources efficiently, but it also raises questions about the architectural and symbolic expression of public institutions.

Source: yimba.sk / TASR / Wood Real Estate