Irregularities in Senate construction works: Audit reveals structural flaws and undocumented changes
A recent audit conducted by the Chamber of Accounts of the Senate of the Republic, covering the 2020-2024 period, has brought to light significant technical discrepancies in the execution of two key projects within the institution: the employee cafeteria and the ambassadors’ lounge, also known as the VIP area.
The technical report details that the projects deviated from the original approved plans, which raises questions about the quality, final cost, and the actual scope of the interventions carried out at the legislative headquarters.
Main technical findings
- Employee dining room: Of the seven reinforced shear walls that were stipulated in the original design, only six were built.
- VIP lounge: A modification was recorded in the structural metal profiles, causing a 160% increase in the weight of the bracing, going from 22.9 kg/m to 59.7 kg/m.
The decision to end the structural intervention with the construction of 6 of the 7 proposed shear walls was based strictly on the management of the project’s cost escalation.
Ramón Novo, Administrative Secretary General of the Senate
Regarding the alteration of the metal profiles in the VIP lounge, Senate authorities argued that these changes were due to a redesign requested by the structural supervisor. However, the audit points out a critical issue: the lack of official documentation or written evidence to support such a technical recommendation.
This report takes on special relevance when recalling the infrastructure background in the entity, specifically the partial collapse of the dining room ceiling that occurred in February 2022 while remodeling work was being carried out in that area.
