Groundbreaking ceremony for a 150 million euro project on Pfnorstraße – new location for fire department and civil protection
With the official groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the city of Darmstadt, a center of science and technology, has taken the next step in the construction of its new main fire station. A new central location for the fire department and civil protection services is being built on a roughly 30,300 square meter plot of land at the corner of Pfnorstraße and Gräfenhäuser Straße. With a budget of more than 150 million euros, this is currently the city's largest investment project.
The new main fire station is intended to consolidate numerous emergency response tasks at a single location. In addition to the emergency personnel and their vehicles, it will also house central facilities for coordinating operations and managing exceptional crisis situations.
New location for approximately 140 emergency personnel
The new main fire station will be designed for approximately 140 firefighters. In addition to the vehicle bays and the necessary facilities for the fire department, numerous other functional areas will be created.
This includes the central radio station for non-police emergency response, the command and disaster control staff, and the city's crisis management team.
In addition, workshop and logistics areas, training and practice areas, as well as administrative and storage rooms are planned.
This is intended to bring important tasks of the fire brigade and civil protection together under one roof in the future.
Mayor Hanno Benz describes the new building as one of the most ambitious construction projects in the science city of Darmstadt.
“This project is one of the most complex urban construction projects and is essential for the safety and coexistence in our city,” explains Benz.
The new station is intended to ensure the operational capability of the fire brigade in a growing city and at the same time create modern working conditions for the people who are on duty around the clock for the safety of the population.
Investment in fire service and disaster relief
In addition to regular fire service operations, civil protection also plays an important role in the planning.
By housing the various management and crisis teams, the new location is intended to create the organizational prerequisites to be able to react to major damage incidents and exceptional crisis situations.
Fire department head Paul Georg Wandrey emphasizes the long-term importance of the project.
“With the new main fire station, the science city of Darmstadt is making a sustainable investment in efficient hazard prevention and strengthening its ability to act – even in exceptional crisis situations,” explains Wandrey.
Construction costs exceed 150 million euros
With a budget of over 150 million euros, the new building represents a significant financial challenge for the city.
City treasurer André Schellenberg points out that this is currently the largest investment project in the science city.
“This new building is currently the largest investment project in the science city of Darmstadt and poses challenges to our budget,” explains Schellenberg.
However, the city is expecting funding from the federal special fund "Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality".
These expected funds should help Darmstadt to continue investing in important infrastructure projects despite the tight budget situation.
No specific amount of funding was mentioned.
Extensive preparatory work on the building site
Before the actual new construction could begin, extensive preparatory measures were required on the property.
This included investigating the site for possible unexploded ordnance, removing contaminated sites, and a complex reorganization of the existing canal infrastructure.
Preparatory excavation work and the construction of the foundation have been underway since October.
For the building's foundation alone, 115 large-diameter bored piles will be installed. Together, they will reach a length of approximately 1,470 meters.
The work illustrates the technical effort required for the construction of the new main fire station.
Heat pump, ice storage and photovoltaics planned
The city is relying on a concept with several coordinated technologies for its energy supply.
Plans include a heat pump system that utilizes heat from a wastewater canal. An ice storage system will also be used.
Green roofs are also part of the plan.
The buildings will also be equipped with a photovoltaic system with a peak output of approximately 800 kilowatts. A battery storage system will complement the energy concept.
In addition, a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles will be created.
These measures are intended to integrate renewable energies and innovative technologies into the supply of the new fire station.
Structural work is expected to begin after 2027
Extensive construction work is still required before the new main fire station is completed.
According to the current schedule, the preparatory civil engineering work is expected to last until the end of 2027.
Only then will the structural work begin.
The city of Darmstadt has not yet announced a specific date for the completion or commissioning of the new main fire station.
The most important information
Project: New construction of the main fire station in Darmstadt
Location: Corner of Pfnorstraße/Gräfenhäuser Straße, Darmstadt
Groundbreaking ceremony: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Land area: Approximately 30,300 square meters
Investment volume: More than 150 million euros
Capacity: Approximately 140 emergency personnel
Planned facilities: fire department, central radio control center, command and disaster control staff, municipal crisis management team, workshops, logistics, training, administration and storage
Foundation: 115 large bored piles with a total length of approximately 1,470 meters
Energy concept: Heat pump with wastewater heat recovery, ice storage, green roof, photovoltaics, battery storage and charging infrastructure
Photovoltaic system: Approximately 800 kilowatt peak
Civil engineering works: Expected to last until the end of 2027
Start of structural work: Following the excavation work
Completion date: No date has been given yet
Financing: Municipal investment with expected funding from the federal special fund "Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality"
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
