Luxembourg Adds Third Tower to European Court Complex

The third tower of the Court of Justice of the European Union has broken ground 11 years after the first two.

23 September 2019 | Luxembourg, Luxembourg

The firm Dominique Perrault Architecture has just broken ground on the third tower of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), eleven years after the completion of the first two.

Three towers dominate the site of the CJEU in Luxembourg. The newest one was inaugurated on September 19, 2019, while the other two were delivered in 2008.

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Cour de Justice (Complex)

Cour de Justice Tower I

Cour de Justice Tower II

Cour de Justice Tower III

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The CJEU is the chief judicial authority of the European Union and oversees the uniform application and interpretation of European Union law. It was established in 1973 on the Kirchberg plateau in Luxembourg.

Perrault began work on a 30-story tower, which vertically punctuates the east end of the site. It houses the jurist-linguists of the European institution in individual offices.

“The tower’s form takes the shape of two contiguous blades. One, with gilded metal façades, is reminiscent of the twin towers completed in 2008.”

The tower’s form will take the shape of two contiguous blades. One, 103 meters (338 feet) in height, has gilded metal façades reminiscent of the twin towers completed in 2008. The other, 118 meters (387 feet), is distinguished by its black enameled glass façades that echo the darkness of the original palace designed by architects Jean-Paul Conzemius, François Jamagne and Michel Van der Elst. On the 27th floor, a shared terrace offers panoramic views of Luxembourg and bordering countries.

With this addition, the Court of Justice now extends over 250,000 square meters (2,690,977 square feet). Eighty-four judges, 11 Advocates General and 2,217 officials and agents work there each day. “Everyone is aware of where they are because, here, architecture is the institution,” said Jean-Michel Rachet, chief of staff of the Clerk of the Court.

For more on this story go to Le Moniteur.