Graz criminal court gets €13.7 million extension

Construction is under way on a four-storey extension to Graz’s criminal court, with completion planned for spring 2028, ORF reports. A symbolic groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday, although work has been under way since the summer.

The roughly 2,300-square-metre addition will include a new jury courtroom, two courtrooms, waiting areas and offices for the public prosecutor’s office. The project is budgeted at €13.7 million.

Justice Minister Anna Sporrer said the extension would provide more space for court operations while incorporating modern security standards, accessibility and public access.

The design gives particular attention to the protected historic courthouse. Access to the new building will be through the existing main entrance on Conrad-von-Hötzendorf-Strasse. The design was drawn up by Vienna-based mohr niklas architekten ZT GmbH, whose proposal won an open, Europe-wide architectural competition.

Separately, a new 2,500-square-metre workshop hall at Strass barracks was completed within its planned 12-month construction period. The €11 million building is intended to handle ongoing purchases of vehicles and equipment. The old workshop had been used to inspect and maintain about 400 vehicles, 800 weapons and 500 communications devices each year.