On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Real Estate Company is building a prison in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee. The new building is designed as a future-oriented building that meets the requirements of a modern and efficient prison operation and offers an adequate workplace for the employees. The prison is expected to be completed at the end of 2027. The construction costs are around 170 million euros gross.
A modern penal system with five arms
The new justice building with a net floor space of around 24,400 m² is a star-shaped building with five arms. In addition to providing access, one arm also serves general areas such as a multi-purpose room, the infirmary, the commercial kitchen and a library. The other four arms accommodate the required departments with the detention rooms. These are located on only one side of the facade, so that there is no visual connection between the different departments. In addition, each arm has the same general areas such as training rooms, tea kitchens and leisure rooms. There are walking yards between the buildings. This homogeneous structure ensured by the star shape allows a flexible arrangement of the different detention departments. The inmates can carry out manual work in the designated workshop wing.
“Whether it is about energy efficiency, safety or workplace quality – the new prison building in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee will set new standards for prisons throughout Austria. The basis of the new building is a modern concept that has been thought through down to the last detail, and I am looking forward to its implementation with great excitement. I am pleased that the employees of the prison guard in Carinthia will soon have access to a state-of-the-art prison that meets the highest security requirements and I would like to thank everyone involved in the planning and implementation, said Justice Minister Alma Zadic.
“This major construction project is a significant economic stimulus that will secure numerous jobs, and a major construction project that BIG can implement with its many years of expertise. It is a groundbreaking building in which particular emphasis is placed on architectural and ecologically sustainable quality “, says Gerald Beck, Managing Director of BIG.
Geothermal energy: 100 depth probes, each 150 meters deep
The planned solid construction of the building will reduce the heating and cooling requirements. Energy-efficient lighting systems and water-saving devices ensure resource-saving operations. For example, there is a service water supply for the toilet facilities and for irrigation of the inner courtyards and outdoor areas. All ventilation systems are designed with heat recovery. The partial shading, the geometry of the building, the use of solar control glazing and the greening of the courtyards and open spaces prevent overheating in summer and improve the ambient climate. The around 100 deep probes, each with a depth of around 150 meters, are also climate-friendly, meaning that the geothermal energy is also used to control the temperature of the building. The construction of a photovoltaic system with a total of around 750 kWp is planned on the roof and in open spaces. Climate-active silver certification is being sought for the star-shaped building.
Architecture competition
The Graz architectural firm Zinterl ZT GmbH emerged as the winner of an EU-wide, open, single-stage realization competition with 35 competition entries.
Photo material
Groundbreaking ceremony (from left to right): Gerald Beck, managing director of the Federal Real Estate Company; Friedrich Alexander Koenig General Director for Punishment and Measures, Gaby Schaunig Deputy Governor of Carinthia, Alexander Kastner 2nd Vice Mayor of Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Copyright: Rene Knabl
Visualizations of the prison
Copyright: Zinterl Architekten ZT GmbH
Note: The image material may only be used free of charge for editorial reporting on the project “New Building of the Klagenfurt Prison” and must be marked with the copyright of the author upon publication.
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