Alicante’s City of Justice enters final phase, led by Ayesa Engineering

Set to become an architectural landmark, the project enters its final stage with the installation of the façade and the configuration of interior spaces.

The complex, spanning 47,000 square meters and representing an investment of €78 million, will address a longstanding demand to centralize all judicial bodies in the city within a single facility.

Alicante’s City of Justice has entered its final phase with the installation of the building’s façade and the configuration of its interior spaces. Ayesa, a global provider of engineering and technology services, is responsible for the comprehensive design and construction management of this symbolic development, which will consolidate a large portion of Alicante’s judicial services and is expected to become an architectural icon within the Valencian Community.

Construction of the future ‘Rafael Altamira’ judicial hub began in 2023 in the Benalúa neighborhood, opposite the current courts, and is progressing steadily. Covering a total area of 47,000 m² and with €78 million in funding, the project aims to resolve one of the city’s major infrastructure challenges: the fragmentation of its judicial bodies, including Civil and Criminal Courts, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Mediation Center, and the Institute of Legal Medicine.

Several of the most complex stages have already been completed, including the underground concrete structure, the auditorium, and most recently, the cantilevered steel structure forming the main entrance. Simultaneously, work is underway on the internal layout of the basement levels, structural supports for the façade, and the mechanical, electrical, and elevator systems, as well as connections to basic utilities—all designed to streamline the next phases of construction.

Project highlights

The new facility will feature eight above-ground floors housing public service and administrative areas, a mezzanine level for high-security functions, and two basement levels dedicated to parking and archives. In addition to ending the dispersion of judicial services, the complex will be among the first in Spain to align with the new Organic Law 1/2025 of January 2, focused on enhancing the efficiency of public justice services. It will deliver tangible benefits to citizens, such as greater convenience in legal processes, improved user service, and more efficient management.

The building has been designed as a flexible, future-proof facility, taking into account the upcoming implementation of the new Courts of First Instance, which are expected to become operational in Alicante by December 31, 2025, and to accommodate the future demands of the local judicial system.

Sustainability has been a key consideration in Ayesa’s design. The project features white ceramic façades that filter natural light, glass curtain walls that ensure brightness and visual connection with the outside, smart climate control systems, and a photovoltaic installation that will cover a significant portion of the building’s energy consumption.

The City of Justice is one of the most significant projects currently being carried out by Ayesa in Spain, due to both its scale and its social impact. According to Carmen Rodríguez Manzanares, Ayesa’s project director, “this development reflects our commitment to creating landmark buildings that combine functionality, sustainability, and modernity, while ensuring integration into the urban fabric”.

BIM Methodology as a key differentiator

A major milestone in the project has been the implementation of BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodology and virtual reality tools. “Thanks to BIM, the project has been managed collaboratively from the earliest stages, allowing seamless coordination across disciplines, reducing errors, and optimizing execution times. Moreover, the digital model will serve as the foundation for the building’s management and maintenance throughout its entire lifecycle, providing long-term added value”, explains Carmen.

With this project, Ayesa reaffirms its leadership in the engineering and architecture sector and strengthens its role as a strategic partner to public administrations in the development of key infrastructure for society.