In Recklinghausen, another milestone was recently reached for a substantial new-build project for the police in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Central Police Facility and a Regional Training Centre are being constructed at the Westring site. The total area of all buildings currently under construction amounts to approximately 48,000 square metres of gross floor area. Progress on the construction site is already visible, with foundation work well advanced and two construction cranes dominating the site. This undertaking underscores the modernisation of the state's police infrastructure.
The new location will consolidate various central functions in the future. These include administrative offices of the Recklinghausen Police Headquarters, the riot police unit, several criminal investigation departments, a vehicle workshop, and the police medical service. A multi-storey car park and the Recklinghausen Regional Training Centre complete the complex. The latter is designed as a modern education and training facility for emergency services personnel from the police headquarters in Recklinghausen, Gelsenkirchen, and Oberhausen.
Symbolic Foundation Stone Laying and Commitment to Sustainability
As part of the foundation stone laying ceremony, a time capsule was filled and symbolically immured. Participants in this act included NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul, Police President Friederike Zurhausen, Mayor Axel Tschersich, District Administrator Bodo Klimpel, Albert ten Brinke from the project developer Ten Brinke, and Ruth Nienhaus, architect and partner at JBR PARTNER. The capsule contains various contemporary documents for future generations. These include a blueprint of the project, the police crest, a document signed by Interior Minister Reul, Police President Zurhausen, 40 new police officers, and a government inspector with their oath of office, a copy of the German Basic Law, and a daily newspaper.
Interior Minister Herbert Reul emphasised that buildings alone do not guarantee security; rather, this is the task of the police officers. He explained that society, which expects this dedication, must also create the framework conditions for adequate work and training. The construction project is therefore more than a concrete foundation; it lays a reliable foundation for a strong police force and the safety of the population in North Rhine-Westphalia. Police President Friederike Zurhausen highlighted that a modern police force requires contemporary buildings, as the mission has fundamentally changed since the old police quarters were built, and requirements have increased. She referred to the creation of synergies through the consolidation of departments.
Albert ten Brinke, CEO of Ten Brinke, expressed his delight at the construction of a modern police complex that meets both the high demands of police work and architectural quality. He stressed the contribution to the region's public infrastructure in collaboration with the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the police, and local partners. District Administrator Bodo Klimpel expressed his pride in the realisation of a project of this magnitude in the Recklinghausen district, calling it a commitment to the region and an investment in security. Mayor Axel Tschersich highlighted the importance of the facility as a location factor for Recklinghausen and praised the trusting cooperation with the police during the planning and approval phase.
The project is being realised by the internationally active company Ten Brinke as the project developer and construction company. The planning comes from the architectural firm JBR PARTNER from Münster. The construction project aims for BNB certification in silver to document a particularly resource-efficient and future-proof construction method. The buildings will also be constructed according to the GEG 40 energy efficiency standard. A Europe-wide tendering process preceded the construction project. Following contract signing in 2024 and the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony in May 2026, the realisation is progressing on schedule.
