The Regional Government has launched the contract works for "Conceição Palace-House of Autonomy" project, as in accordance with the Regional Public Works Charter, thus responding to the needs to provide a solution for the issues related to fire safety, accessibility and termite infestation.
Over the centuries, the Conceição Palace, former Convent of Our Lady of Conception, had several functions; it served as headquarters of the Civil Government as well as of the Administrative Council. It has been the seat of the Regional Government since 1976.

Classified as Azorean heritage, the Conceição Palace is a building that represents the political memory of Autonomy as a movement and representation of the Azorean People. Hence, the "House of Autonomy" museum project will be installed in an area of the ground floor.

Given the existence of safety issues affecting those working in this building, the facilities, the equipment, the historical and artistic collections and the administrative estate, the "Conceição Palace - House of Autonomy" project will ensure that the safety conditions provided in the legislation currently in force will be met, through an integrated approach. These conditions mainly concern fire safety and power supply in disaster situations in order to guarantee the reliable operation of the communications network and the compliance with the defined requirements in terms of accessibility.

The intervention includes the repair, treatment or replacement of roofs, whose wooden structure is infested with woodworm and/or by drywood termites and their structural capacity is compromised. It will also cover ceilings, floors, baseboards, windows and interior walls.

With a base price of 3.1 million Euros, the contract work has a completion period of 365 days.