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Dienstgebäude einer Leitstelle in unterschiedlicher Höhhenstaffelung mit dunkler Klinkerfassade und großer Fensterfront

Coordinated and Connected – The Regional Dispatch Center in Elmshorn

  • Control centers
  • Fire Stations
  • Office Environments
  • New Construction
  • Ergonomics

The Kooperative Regionalleitstelle (KRLS) Elmshorn has served as the central hub for emergency response in the region, coordinating emergency calls, dispatching services, and overseeing operations for both police and rescue teams across multiple jurisdictions since 2010. Due to substantial shortcomings in the original building, Trapez was commissioned to design a new facility that would meet the complex demands of a modern emergency dispatch center.

Bauaufgabe
Neubau einer Leitstelle
Location
Elmshorn, Schleswig-Holstein
Client
Kreis Pinneberg
Gross Area
5.196 m²
Service Phases (HOAI)
1–8
Completion
2018
Partnership
Architektur Büro Herzer, Lph 8
Awards
State Prize for Building Culture Schleswig-Holstein, 2022
Dienstgebäude einer Leitstelle in unterschiedlicher Höhhenstaffelung mit dunkler Klinkerfassade und großer Fensterfront

Bringing together two cooperating control centers – one for police operations, the other for fire and rescue services—the building was designed to foster inter-agency collaboration and streamline complex workflows. At the heart of the planning process was a participatory dialogue with both client and users, initiated before a single line was drawn. This early engagement laid the foundation for a facility tailored precisely to the needs of those who work within it – while allowing for flexibility of use for the generation to come.

From the outside, the structure appears robust and compact – unassuming in its presence. But like a geode, the building reveals a bright, crystalline interior that supports clarity, focus, and collaboration. Flowing spaces, warm materials, and carefully modulated daylight create a calm and concentrated atmosphere for high-performance work.

Innenraum einer großen Leitstelle mit disponententischen, Treppe und Galerie. die Wände sind aus Holz mit grünen Akzenten
Innenraum einer großen Leitstelle mit disponententischen, Treppe und Galerie. die Wände sind aus Holz mit grünen Akzenten
Innenraum einer großen Leitstelle mit disponententischen, einem großen Oberlicht und großer Glasfassade.

The internal spatial organization had a direct influence on the architectural form. Clear sightlines and short walking distances between the two control centers and common areas were central to the design. At the heart of the building, an open communication zone serves as both a visual and functional link – reinforcing collaboration while giving the building an inner focal point.

Designed from the ground up for 24-hour operations, the building integrates technical, architectural, and ergonomic strategies to support continuous, high-stakes work. This includes optimal daylighting, access to the outdoors, acoustic control, and workspaces engineered for physical and cognitive comfort.

“It is truly encouraging when public service buildings are designed with an evident architectural quality. The Kooperative Regionalleitstelle West in Elmshorn is an outstanding example—offering excellent and humane working conditions.”

Jury Statement, State Award for Building Culture, Schleswig-Holstein
Zwei Männer in einer Teeküche eines dienstgebäudes. Die Wände sind aus Holz mit grünen Akzenten
Ein langer Besprechungstisch mit grünen Bürostühlen und Tlefonen. Innenliegende Fenster geben Einblick in benachbarte Lageräume
Personen sitzen im Foyer einer Leitstelle auf einer Sitzgruppe mit grünen Polstermöbeln. Einblick in Funraum und Galerie. die Wände sind aus Holz mit grünen Akzenten
Dienstgebäude einer Leitstelle in unterschiedlicher Höhhenstaffelung mit dunkler Klinkerfassade und großer Fensterfront
Dienstgebäude einer Leitstelle in unterschiedlicher Höhhenstaffelung mit dunkler Klinkerfassade und großer Fensterfront, aus der warmes Licht scheint

The result is a space that balances operational precision with a sense of calm and spatial generosity – essential qualities for sustained concentration and collaborative decision-making. The clarity of the interior is mirrored in the architectural expression: each volume and cantilever responds directly to the program within, giving the building its sculptural form and functional logic. Seen from outside, the building reveals its internal organization through proportion and articulation – quietly signaling the purpose-built nature of what lies within.

Photos Credits: Meike Hansen, archimage

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