The new control center of the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) in Lichtenberg is the operational heart of the city’s underground network, overseeing and coordinating all nine U-Bahn lines. The new building consolidates five previously separate locations into a single, state-of-the-art facility.
Running a 24-hour dispatch center places intense demands on spatial design. The space must support deep concentration, round-the-clock alertness, and seamless coordination under pressure. To meet these demands, Trapez Architektur placed special emphasis on ergonomics, visual calm, and spatial clarity.
A custom-designed skylight filters daylight exclusively from the north, using prismatic reflectors to eliminate glare and provide consistent, diffuse illumination across the central work zone. The result is a soft, balanced atmosphere that supports focus – day and night.
Equally important is the acoustic quality of the space. Working closely with an acoustic engineer, the design team developed custom wall cladding to reduce ambient noise and enhance speech intelligibility. These carefully tuned elements work in concert to create a work environment where technical precision and human concentration can thrive, while bringing the rhythm of the folded metal façade on the exterior into the interior.
These needs—along with the diverse urban fabric of the surrounding works campus – informed the design of the compact, three-story volume. The building’s geometry reflects the varying requirements of each functional area, resulting in different room types and ceiling heights. These differences come together in a folded, faceted structure that subtly shifts in and out across its elevation.
The unevenly folded metal façade, with its shimmering finish, gives the building a dynamic, ever-changing appearance – hinting at the technical precision behind its walls. Together with its sculptural form, the building asserts the vital importance of the control center within the larger site.
Photo Credits: Meike Hansen, archimage
