The Federal Ministry of Justice is moving forward with preparations for the two planned new sites for the Forum Recht Foundation (SFR). According to a letter reported by “Der Spiegel”, the ministry’s office, led by Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD), is urging the Federal Agency for Real Estate Tasks (Bima) to launch a feasibility study for the long-stalled construction projects in Karlsruhe and Leipzig. This action is expected to inject momentum into the major project, estimated to cost 140 million euros, which aims to strengthen public understanding of law and the rule of law and highlight its significance for democracy to the largest possible number of citizens.
Furthermore, documentation released indicates that the Federal Ministry of Finance, under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD), had already approved a revised and significantly downscaled needs assessment for the foundation in late April, with a maximum budget of 70 million euros allocated for each building.
To adhere to the cost constraints, the foundation must reduce the size of its premises. In Karlsruhe, for instance, the planned usable area has been reduced from approximately 6,400 square meters to 4,070 square meters. This new building is slated to be located in close proximity to the Federal Court of Justice.
Similarly, in Leipzig, the construction plan has shrunk from 6,700 square meters to 4,330 square meters. The new facility will be built as a joint project with the also newly planned Faculty of Law at Leipzig University, situated on a section of the Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz, which has been vacant for years. Consequently, the planned footprint of the foundation’s buildings in both locations is decreasing by over a third.
