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Established in temporary premises in 2002, the International Criminal Court has since its entry into force in 2002 sought to settle in permanent premises dedicated exclusively to its use. A facility was finally built in 2015; the decision to build was intended in particular to affirm the unique nature of the Court's international organization in the domain of criminal justice, and to embody its universal and permanent nature. It was a decision made by the States Parties to the Treaty of Rome, but not without difficulty or doubt. There were of necessity major symbolic issues at play in the construction project, but practical considerations, particularly in regard to security, obviously had to prevail in the choices that were ultimately made. Nevertheless, the difficulties encountered in obtaining financing for the building and the fact that it became an occasion for States to push to delimit the Court's future capacities testify to the precarious balance between the will to provide impartial universal justice and the sovereigntist temptations of States.