Design Contest For The New Casa Presidential
Following the announcement Monday to relocate Casa Presidencial from Zapote to the centre of San José, the Poder Ejecutivo (Executive Branch) has said it will open the design of the new building to a national contest.

Arquitects and designers will be able to submit their designs and plans for the erection of a building at face of the east end of the Parque Nacional, said María Elena Carballo, Ministra de Cultura.

The decision to move Casa Presidencial was made after a commission determined that the current building did not suit the needs of the government and a new location was found. Originally, the CENAC building was discussed as a possible location, but the commission opted for a new construction.

With the decision, the government can now move ahead to expropriate the lands it requires, lands that are now being used as a parking lot and will be in th hands of Fernando Zumbado, Ministro de Vivienda (Housing Minister) and part of the Proyecto de Planificación regional y urbana de la Gran Área Metropolitana (PRU-GAM) - urban planning project for San José.

At present time only the decision to construct a new Casa Presidencial and its location has been made. Details on the type of building, size, etc. will be announced in the future plans are defined and costs are assessed.

"Most important is to take advantage of the opportunity to think seriously about the downtown core and a civic centre where all the branches of government are included, contemplating transportation solutions, pedestrian walkways and green space surrounding Casa Presidencial, as we all win having a Casa Presidencial we can all be proud of", said Carballo.

No timing on the project has been announced, but we can be sure it will be before the current term of the current government.