Gütersloh

District court

Extension to Gütersloh Magistrates’ Court

More space for court operations

The new building extends the existing magistrates’ court building, which dates from 1959, and creates additional space for court operations. A key constraint of the construction project was the need for a direct connection to the listed existing building. At the same time, court operations continued throughout the runtime and this had to be taken into account when organising the work.

New building within the listed structure

The extension adjoins the front of the existing building directly. The grid-patterned architectural concrete façade, featuring partially perforated elements in front of the stairwells, echoes design features of the existing building and carries them over to the new structure. Heritage protection requirements were a key constraint for the construction work.

Interior construction and building services

Once the façade work was complete, efforts focused on the interior construction and building services. This included, amongst other things, the installation of a ground-source heat pump. At the same time, work was carried out to ensure the building was accessible. This comprises tactile guidance systems and signage, induction loop systems in the meeting rooms, as well as acoustic warning systems.

Joint planning of construction sequences

The project team used the Last Planner System to coordinate the construction sequences. The site manager and trades were closely involved in the scheduling process. The aim was to jointly coordinate upcoming work and identify potential bottlenecks at an early stage.

Consolidating court functions at a single location

With around 2,350 m² of additional space, the new building expands the spatial capacity of Gütersloh Local Court. This paves the way for the existing branch offices to be brought together at the central location in future. At the same time, the accessible facilities complement the spatial and technical requirements for the building’s use.