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Architects: JHK Architecten
- Area: 4600 m²
- Year: 2010
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Photographs:Palladium Photodesign
Text description provided by the architects. An Incident and Coordination Centre (MCC), commissioned by the Veiligheidsregio (Security Region) Limburg South, was realized at the location of the existing police station on the Prins Bisschopsingel in Maastricht. The MCC replaces the former sports and storage building; however its technical areas have been integrated into the new-build.
Situated in the Jeker valley, the MCC is part of a well-considered ensemble. The ellipse form fits in with the existing context, while respecting the characteristics of the current buildings. The horizontal layering in the façade provides the building with a visual link to the distinctive façade arrangement of the existing building. In addition, the MCC's recognizable volume shows itself to be a perfect introduction to the possible future developments in the area.
Brought together in a compact volume of ca 4,500 m2, the incident room, call centre and various office functions represent the nerve centre of emergency and disaster coordination in South Limburg. The entire building rises up above a sturdy plinth containing storage and parking facilities, a layer that is ready for a possible extension of office functions in the future. The heart of the building, in the form of an atrium, has been developed as a place to relax and meet people and is also the central pivot that connects the various functions with each other. This atrium is completed with a glass roof, so that sufficient daylight can enter the centre of the building as well. The MCC links up with the inner area of the existing police station. In this way, the building's entrance is a logical continuation of the walk taken to reach the MCC from the existing building, and leads directly to the centre of the atrium. The larger and more introverted spaces are oriented towards this inner area, while the office-type spaces face the direct residential surroundings of the Villapark and the Jeker valley. The entire design is characterized by a high level of flexibility and user-friendliness, which ensures that it will provide a good working climate, now and in the future.
The lower and upper levels of the MCC fit in with the classic, richly detailed brick architecture in the immediate vicinity, in terms of materialization and detailing. The upper levels are typified by a modern light appearance. A strong rhythm of deeply recessed, high windows provides sufficient daylight in the work zones and enough privacy in the incident room and the call centre. In addition, the jutting-out prefab textured aluminium elements create a natural sun shade. The robust plinth is made of rough brickwork. The sturdy basement guarantees a protected position for the vital functions of the emergency centre, without the building having to conceal itself from its direct surroundings.
