Saint Lazarus Legislative Palace | |
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Palacio Legislativo de San Lázaro | |
Saint Lazarus Legislative Palace
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General information | |
Architectural style | Minimalist, Modern architecture |
Address | Avenida Congreso de la Unión No. 66, Colonia El Parque, Delegación Venustiano Carranza C.P. 15960 |
Town or city | Mexico City |
Country | Mexico |
Construction started | September of 1979 |
Completed | 1981 |
Client | President José López Portillo |
Design and construction | |
Architect | Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, Jorge Campuzano, David Suárez; Restoration Architect: Manuel De Santiago-of Bourbon González Bravo (Manuel De Santiago-de Borbón González Bravo). |
The Saint Lazarus Legislative Palace (Spanish: Palacio Legislativo de San Lázaro) is the main seat of the legislative power of the Mexican government, being the permanent meeting place of the Chamber of Deputies (equivalent to the House of Representatives or House of Commons), as well as the seat of the whole Congress of the Union, when the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house) convenes in conjunction with the Senate of the Republic (the upper house; UK House of Lords equivalent). Built in the late 20th century after a 1977 political reform, the complex is located in Mexico City about a mile east of the Zócalo central square, in the Venustiano Carranza borough or district, next to the Palace of Federal Justice. The complex draws its name from its location, as the Saint Lazarus Railway Station was the former occupant of the grounds where the palace was built.
After the Mexican political reform of 1977, the number of deputies of the Chamber passed from 186 to 400, and thus, it was impossible for them to convene in the former meeting place, then known as the Legislative Palace of Donceles, which is now occupied by the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District. Thereupon, construction on a new seat of the Legislative began as a part of a plan of urban restructuring of the sector where the Saint Lazarus Station was located, on the limit of the Venustiano Carranza and Cuauhtémoc boroughs. Also on the property was built a new Palace of Federal Justice for the functions of the Judiciary branch of the government.