New building for the state investigation office in Koblenz: costs explode to 144 million euros
Quick Look
- The new construction of the state investigation office in Koblenz has been delayed and the costs have increased from the original 50-60 million to 144 million euros.
- After bankruptcies and layoffs, the procurement process was restarted, with completion scheduled for mid-October.
- Around 280 employees will work in the new building.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The State Investigation Office (LUA) was founded in 2000 and has locations in Koblenz, Landau, Mainz, Speyer and Trier. It takes on tasks such as food testing, drinking water safety, animal disease control and infectious disease diagnostics.
Years of delays and exploding costs: The new building of the State Investigation Office (LUA) in Koblenz has gotten out of hand. The approved cost framework for one of the country's largest construction projects has increased to 144 million euros, confirmed the new ministry now responsible under Construction Minister Sven Teuber (SPD) in Mainz. The costs were originally estimated at 50 to 60 million euros. However, that was a long time ago.
It should even be possible to examine a dead elephant in the new building. The State Office for Property and Construction Management (LBB) announced the project in 2016. The construction time was estimated at four years after construction work began.
Poor performance and bankruptcy
Shortly after the shell was completed in 2019, due to poor planning performance, termination of the first contracted engineering firm for supply and electrical engineering became unavoidable. Then, among other things, a plumbing, water and wastewater company went bankrupt, “an important key trade,” as they say.
The process was restarted in March 2026 with a Europe-wide tender, according to the new Ministry of Construction and Municipalities. After evaluating the offers, negotiations have been ongoing since August. “Final bidder questions and clarifications are currently being processed.” The award process is expected to be completed in mid-October.
Will the work continue this year?
After the new company has been commissioned, construction work could be resumed. And once the relevant contract has been concluded, the new completion date can probably be announced.
Around 280 employees are expected to work in one building
280 of the approximately 500 employees of the specialist authority, which also has locations in Landau, Mainz, Speyer and Trier, work in Koblenz. The five-story new building with a length of 100 meters in the Bubenheim/B9 commercial and technology park will have more than 5,000 square meters of laboratory space and another almost 3,000 square meters for offices, canteen and library.
The LUA, founded in 2000, has numerous tasks. This includes testing food for harmful substances or misleading labeling, drinking water safety, diagnosing and combating animal diseases, and protecting people from infectious diseases such as corona or influenza through their diagnostics and monitoring.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The award process will be completed in mid-October and construction work can continue this year.
Likely · Within weeks
Once the new company has been commissioned, a new completion date will be announced.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- Which company will ultimately receive the construction contract?
- When exactly will the building be completed?
- How will the additional 94 million euros compared to the original budget be financed?
