The design of the new headquarters of the Prague Emergency Medical Service will be created by the Plural studio

Prague - The design for the new headquarters of the medical rescue service (ZZS) on the land next to the Prosek Polyclinic in Prague 9 will be shaped by the Plural studio, which won the architectural and urban competition. The winner will now begin working on the complete project and other necessary steps for construction. The selection of the winner was approved today by the Prague councilors, Deputy Mayor Alexandra Udženija (ODS) told reporters. Construction could start in 2027, with estimated costs around two billion crowns. Currently, the rescuers are based on Korunní Street in a building they share with, among others, the municipal police.

"After a long 11 years since the first intention to build a new building for the rescue service, we finally have a selected architectural design. The new project will not only enable the establishment of a modern medical operational center at the highest level, but it will also streamline the work and coordination of our medical personnel under one roof," said Udženija.

The new building will serve as a dispatch center for the rescue service, housing a training center for employees and rescuers, as well as servicing for ambulances. Rescuers will also have administrative facilities in Prosek. The employees of the rescue service were involved in the creation of the project, informing architects about their needs and what they believe works best.

The winner of the competition will now be invited to prepare the complete design work, including subsequent supervision during construction. "If the schedule, which is provisional, is adhered to and everything goes as it should, the construction should begin in June 2027 and the completion in January 2030," said Udženija.

Until the new headquarters is built, the city will carry out essential repairs at the current location on Korunní Street. "Right now, for example, there is a reconstruction of the dispatch center," said Udženija. The city is also expanding the number of dispatch stations, negotiating with the Na Františku Hospital where a new dispatch location could be established.

In the first round of the competition, 19 participants submitted their proposals. In May of this year, a special municipal commission selected six finalists, from which the winner was subsequently chosen.

Last year, the Prague ZZS dealt with 142,000 events, which is 14,500 more than the previous year and the highest number in its history. This trend of increase has continued, with 2021 also being a record year. Since 1999, rescuers, along with the Prague municipal police, have been located in a building on Korunní Street, and the municipal leadership has been discussing the construction of a separate headquarters for several years. The annual budget of ZZS is about half a billion crowns.