Space for 429 prisoners – Austria’s most modern port is a jack of all trades

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A “milestone”, a “symbol of progress”, an “investment for society as a whole” – these are the superlatives with which decision-makers described the new prison building next to Klagenfurt Airport during the groundbreaking ceremony. And there is also a special nickname…

“These spaces shape people, which is why this new building is a particularly valuable task,” emphasizes Gerald Beck, head of the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG), and the general director of the Austrian Enforcement System for Criminal Law and Measures, Friedrich Alexander Koenig. , considers the new building as a prison on the site next to Klagenfurt airport “a vision of the modern penal system”.

80,000 square meters of modern construction
After more than four years of planning, the first pile for the 170 million euro project took place on Tuesday; Construction will start in early 2025 and everything should be ready by the end of 2027. “The road so far has been long and bumpy, but Colonel Josef Gramm and his team have carried out the planning energetically and professionally,” praises Koenig. “We have been working on this for four years, it couldn’t have happened faster,” says Gramm, the head of Klagenfurt prison, proudly. “It went smoothly, also because the collaboration with politicians was a perfect fit.”

The new ‘home’ for up to 429 prisoners will be built over the next three years on more than 80,000 square meters. “It’s an evolution of the Pennsylvania prison system, with an emphasis on separation of accomplices,” Koenig explains. “The cells are all arranged on one side of the facade in the wings, there is a separate activity room.”

Focus on work environment and rehabilitation
The wings can all be viewed from a central unit; a separation between the seating and working areas is planned. “So that there is a clear separation between work and rehabilitation and imprisonment,” emphasizes the head of the prison system. “But special attention is paid to taking the needs of employees into account. After all, they keep the company running.” During the award ceremony, Koenig expressly thanks the judicial staff and recruits new applicants for this ‘fulfilling profession’.

In the future, up to 200 employees will watch over the prisoners in the new prison. “All existing staff will be retained and modern structures will allow them to perform their tasks much more efficiently,” Koenig continues. The prison staff is also praised by Carinthia’s State Delegate, Gaby Schaunig: “The work is neither easy nor pleasant – they deserve our thanks. The project is an investment for society as a whole.”

A “jack of all trades” with a photovoltaic system
Sustainability is an important factor in all public buildings and investments – including the new prison, which was given a curious nickname during its planning. “In our three-dimensional planning tool, the building looks like a centipede,” explains BIG director Beck. “The many ‘feet’ are the 100 geothermal wells with a depth of 150 meters that are planned.”

The modern system is then heated or cooled using heat pumps, depending on the season and needs. The prison will get the energy for the heat pumps from above. “The construction of a photovoltaic system with a total of approximately 750 kilowatt peak is planned on the roof and in open spaces,” says Beck. “We strive for energy self-sufficiency in new buildings; in other buildings up to 85 percent is already possible. With the new JA we get some extra district heating.”

Source: Krone

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