Oberlandesgericht Köln, Court building in Neustadt-Nord, Germany

The Oberlandesgericht Köln is a five-storey historicist courthouse built in neo-baroque forms, occupying a full block bounded by five streets. Its main facade on Reichenspergerplatz forms a concave quarter-circle, with a richly decorated central risalit around the main portal, framed by two projecting side wings ending in pavilion-like risalits. A 72-metre roof turret, added at Kaiser Wilhelm II's request, was destroyed in the Second World War and not rebuilt.

The building was constructed in 1911 during Germany's imperial expansion and represented the development of modern judicial infrastructure in the region. Its creation occurred when North Rhine-Westphalia was significantly reinforcing its legal institutions.

The square in front of the building is named after August Reichensperger, a jurist and politician. Above the main portal, a frieze shows Justitia, the goddess of justice. Since late 2017 the building has also housed the victim protection commissioner of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The building is visible from the outside and located in an easily accessible area of Neustadt-Nord. Visitors should note that this is an active courthouse and interior access may have restrictions.

Under the lawn of Reichenspergerplatz in front of the building lies an air-raid shelter built in 1942: an M-shaped concrete tube 1.50 m wide and 2.20 m high, about 200 m² in area, officially approved for 180 people. The court used it as a file store until 1979; it was rediscovered only in 2009 and can be visited on the first Sunday of each month.