The Legislative Assembly Building is an 80-meter-high building that has 18 floors above ground level and four basement floors, located in the city of San José, capital of Costa Rica. Designed by architect Javier Salinas, this building cost more than $149,122,807.[1].
The building began construction on March 7, 2018 and was formally completed in October 2020. It is located between Central Avenue, Central Avenue "Avenida Central (San José)") and 15th Street, on the south side of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
As with the previous building, its location on the Cuesta de Moras sector of Central Avenue means that the legislative body is colloquially called "Cuesta de Moras".
The construction of a new building was urgent because the useful life of the previous building was over.[2].
Background
Contenido
Hasta octubre de 2020, la Asamblea Legislativa tuvo su sede en el Edificio Central, ubicado entre Avenida Central "Avenida Central (San José)") y Avenida Primera, entre calles 15 y 17, en una edificación que inició su construcción en 1937, con el propósito de ser la Casa Presidencial.
Central Building
The construction of the Central Building, former headquarters of the Legislative Assembly, began in 1937, with the original idea of locating the new Presidential House. Building materials were brought from Europe, mainly Germany and Czechoslovakia. When the Second World War broke out, construction was paralyzed, resuming in 1957. In six months construction was completed and in March 1958 it was established as the headquarters of the Legislative Assembly. In a short time, people identified the new legislative headquarters with the name that the site had since colonial times.[3].
Previous situation
Apart from the Central Building, the legislative branch was housed in a total of 14 buildings distributed between Los Yoses and the central avenue, 15th street; of which eight are owned and another six are rented, which causes logistical problems of work and communication, as well as ongoing non-refundable and sometimes very onerous expenses.
assembly space
Introduction
The Legislative Assembly Building is an 80-meter-high building that has 18 floors above ground level and four basement floors, located in the city of San José, capital of Costa Rica. Designed by architect Javier Salinas, this building cost more than $149,122,807.[1].
The building began construction on March 7, 2018 and was formally completed in October 2020. It is located between Central Avenue, Central Avenue "Avenida Central (San José)") and 15th Street, on the south side of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
As with the previous building, its location on the Cuesta de Moras sector of Central Avenue means that the legislative body is colloquially called "Cuesta de Moras".
The construction of a new building was urgent because the useful life of the previous building was over.[2].
Background
Contenido
Hasta octubre de 2020, la Asamblea Legislativa tuvo su sede en el Edificio Central, ubicado entre Avenida Central "Avenida Central (San José)") y Avenida Primera, entre calles 15 y 17, en una edificación que inició su construcción en 1937, con el propósito de ser la Casa Presidencial.
Central Building
The construction of the Central Building, former headquarters of the Legislative Assembly, began in 1937, with the original idea of locating the new Presidential House. Building materials were brought from Europe, mainly Germany and Czechoslovakia. When the Second World War broke out, construction was paralyzed, resuming in 1957. In six months construction was completed and in March 1958 it was established as the headquarters of the Legislative Assembly. In a short time, people identified the new legislative headquarters with the name that the site had since colonial times.[3].
Previous situation
These properties were not designed to house offices, but were designed to function as a residence, school or other.
The vast majority of the facilities are deteriorated, with a sanitary closure order by the Ministry of Health "Ministry of Public Health (Costa Rica)") and do not have physical space or minimum conditions for the officials of their services to perform adequately.
Furthermore, with the growth that the Legislative Assembly has experienced, the main building has been modified, reaching the point of closing hallways and balconies to create spaces for offices, in which officials are overcrowded.
Given the state of the buildings that are Historical Heritage, the Legislative Assembly must constantly invest in their repair, remodeling and maintenance. Between ¢200 and ¢280 million are spent annually on paint, floors, covers, leaks and leaks, among others, to keep them running, but without solving the underlying problems.
Controversy
The architectural design has been criticized on aesthetic grounds; in particular, due to the lack of windows and views to the outside, and due to its dark color.
Also, the contractor, who also designed the 2014-2015 Legislative Directory, was set a cost limit for the total project (offices and 2 parking lots) of $60 million, but it is possible that it greatly exceeds that limit.[4].
Apart from the Central Building, the legislative branch was housed in a total of 14 buildings distributed between Los Yoses and the central avenue, 15th street; of which eight are owned and another six are rented, which causes logistical problems of work and communication, as well as ongoing non-refundable and sometimes very onerous expenses.
These properties were not designed to house offices, but were designed to function as a residence, school or other.
The vast majority of the facilities are deteriorated, with a sanitary closure order by the Ministry of Health "Ministry of Public Health (Costa Rica)") and do not have physical space or minimum conditions for the officials of their services to perform adequately.
Furthermore, with the growth that the Legislative Assembly has experienced, the main building has been modified, reaching the point of closing hallways and balconies to create spaces for offices, in which officials are overcrowded.
Given the state of the buildings that are Historical Heritage, the Legislative Assembly must constantly invest in their repair, remodeling and maintenance. Between ¢200 and ¢280 million are spent annually on paint, floors, covers, leaks and leaks, among others, to keep them running, but without solving the underlying problems.
Controversy
The architectural design has been criticized on aesthetic grounds; in particular, due to the lack of windows and views to the outside, and due to its dark color.
Also, the contractor, who also designed the 2014-2015 Legislative Directory, was set a cost limit for the total project (offices and 2 parking lots) of $60 million, but it is possible that it greatly exceeds that limit.[4].