Client: Hessian Ministry of Finance, represented by the State Office for Construction and Real Estate of Hesse (LBIH)
Commissioning Authority: HOCHTIEF Infrastructure GmbH
Location: Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse 20 / Heiligkreuzgasse 15, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Project Timeline: 2021–2026
Status: Under Construction
Services: HOAI Phases 2–5, partial services Phase 8 (Construction Supervision)
Gross Floor Area (GFA): 38,500 m²
Construction Costs (Cost Groups 300–600): €70 million
Groundbreaking: May 2025
Competition Award: July 2023 (1st Prize)
Completion: July 2026
Visualization: © Archlab, Dresden
As part of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) competition, PLAN2, together with HOCHTIEF, was awarded first prize.
The brief called for the construction of two state-of-the-art judicial buildings within the historically evolved courthouse precinct at Konstablerwache, following the demolition of two existing structures. The new buildings at Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse 20 and the adjacent Heiligkreuzgasse 15 will accommodate the Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht), Regional Court (Landgericht), Local Court (Amtsgericht), Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office, General Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Judicial Examination Office. Building C will house two high-security courtrooms equipped with comprehensive security infrastructure. Upon completion, approximately 450 employees will work within the two new buildings.
Urban Planning and Functionality
Building C
The new Building C follows the perimeter-block urban typology (Blockrandbebauung), aligning with the established property lines along Gerichtsstraße and Porzellanhofstraße. Along Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse, the building mass is deliberately set back eastward from the neighbouring building lines in order to preserve and provide adequate space for the mature trees that define the character of the avenue.
Distinct public entrances to the two high-security courtrooms are located at the northern and southern ends of the building. These entrances are expressed through prominent cut-outs extending across the two-story plinth, clearly identifying the access points and organizing visitor circulation to the court facilities.
The southern staff entrance is oriented towards the public transport hubs at Konstablerwache.
The northern main entrance connects directly to the junction point of the existing judicial precinct and serves as the principal functional interface with the historic buildings via both above-ground and underground connections. Located at the intersection of the underground parking facility and Buildings A and E, this entrance forms part of a continuous circulation loop that integrates the operational relationships between all of the buildings.
The existing parking garage access ramp will be reduced to Level -1. This intervention enables a harmonious continuation between Hammelsgasse and Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse.
Functionality
The building has been designed in strict accordance with the complex functional requirements of a contemporary judicial facility.
Within Building C, the entrance and circulation zones are organized around two centrally positioned high-security courtrooms. These courtrooms are located beneath two internal open-air atriums and receive natural daylight through large roof-mounted skylights.
The detainee holding area is situated directly below the courtrooms and is connected to them via dedicated staircases and secure lifts. This arrangement allows defendants to be escorted safely and efficiently to the courtrooms without coming into contact with other user groups or circulation zones.
On the upper office floors, departmental workspaces are arranged around the two open-air atriums. The floor plans are organized as three-bay office structures consisting of offices along both façades with a central service and circulation zone with shared ancillary facilities are concentrated within this central spine.
Copy rooms and sanitary facilities are positioned centrally adjacent to the vertical circulation cores. At the ends of the office wings, kitchenettes and adjacent informal communication areas create attractive spaces for interaction and support the quality of the working environment. Within the two-bay office wings additional internal support spaces are arranged adjacent to the centrally located stair cores. The office levels are connected to the surrounding Buildings A and E via enclosed bridge links.
Special Features
The buildings have been designed in compliance with exceptionally stringent security requirements. Particular attention has been given both to the architectural configuration of the building perimeter and to the integration of advanced security systems.
To maximize operational security, the visitor entrances serving the two high-security courtrooms are positioned at opposite ends of the building, creating the greatest possible separation between user groups.
The secure transfer of detainees to the courtrooms, together with all circulation and transportation requirements, has been meticulously designed in accordance with rigorous security protocols. This results in a clearly segregated circulation concept that prevents unintended interaction between detainees, court personnel, visitors, and members of the public.