Medellin likes big city moves, and this one is all about safety. A new C5 is planned to bring cameras, emergency calls, and multiple agencies into one place, so the city can react faster.
For everyday people, the promise is simple: fewer blind spots, quicker help, and better coordination when something goes wrong. The real test will be how well the tech works in the street, not on a screen.
What “C5” really means
C5 stands for Control, Computing, Communication, and Citizen Contact, a mouthful that basically means “one room where decisions get made fast.”
These centers connect operators, video feeds, emergency lines, and teams in the field, with the goal of cutting response time during crimes, accidents, fires, or medical emergencies.
Instead of separate agencies working in separate buildings, a C5 tries to put everyone on the same page, at the same moment. That can reduce confusion during chaotic events.
Medellin’s plan also adds a modern twist: tools for real-time analysis, stronger digital defenses, and drone support, so the response is not only faster, but also better informed.
A strategic location downtown
The building was planned for central Medellin, in Corazon de Jesus, close to police facilities and near the Avenida Regional.
It was also placed near the Metro’s Line B viaduct and the Libertadores firefighters station, a setup meant to keep it connected to mobility and emergency operations.
Location matters because a control center is only as useful as its links to the people who act on its information. If teams can move quickly, the screens can actually make a difference.
The building itself was planned with 18,800 square meters across seven floors, plus special electrical reserves to keep systems running during outages.
What will be inside
The project was framed as the “operational brain” for the city, with AI-style tools used to analyze security incidents in real time.
It also included software updates and staff training, because even the best tech fails if operators do not know how to use it under pressure.
A drone-ready terrace was part of the design, with a vertiport-style space to support drone operations.
Cybersecurity and cybercrime monitoring were also named as key components, reflecting how urban security now includes online threats, scams, and digital attacks, not only street crime.
More cameras, smarter alerts
The plan was for the new C5 to replace the current 123 center, so emergency calls and monitoring can run from a single, more independent facility.
One headline number stood out: Medellin planned to move from 3,220 security cameras to 4,800 cameras in total.
That growth included 700 LPR cameras for plate recognition, plus mobile cameras, which can help with vehicle tracking and faster investigations after incidents.
Beyond cameras, the plan included more than 1,000 community alarms and 1,300 panic buttons, tools meant to help residents report trouble quickly.
Timeline and money
Total investment was estimated at about US$51.8 million. Funding was not only a wish list, about US$44 million, was approved through “vigencias futuras” (authorization to incur obligations charged to future fiscal years) for 2026 and 2027.
The schedule aimed for construction, beginning in September 2025 and finishing in the first half of 2027.
That means the next two years will be about execution: building, connecting systems, testing workflows, and making sure the people running the center can act fast and fairly.
When the screens turn on
A C5 can help a city feel safer, but it only works if the tech, the teams, and the rules move together. Medellin’s plan is big, and it puts a lot of pressure on doing the basics well.
If the timelines hold and the tools are used responsibly, residents could see practical benefits like quicker response and clearer coordination. If not, it risks becoming a fancy building that looks busy, but solves little.