Kehlen—a municipality founded in 1937 with around 3,000 inhabitants—inaugurated its first newly built city hall on June 24, 1967 after 15 months of construction. Since the end of the 1960s, the mayor at the time had set the building project in motion. The plan was to create a building that would not only serve an administrative function, but could also be a cultural center for the community. In an architectural competition, the Biberach architect Hans Kley came out on top with his design out of 43 participants. Construction began in March 1966.

The building was placed right at the entrance to Kehlen in the middle of a spacious green area. Due to its proximity to the Schussen river, the building site was prepared with a large base plate first. Kley then errected a three-storey reinforced concrete building with a flat roof on top. The building contains administration rooms, a community library, a foyer for events and exhibitions and community rooms. The façade with many window areas is partly structured by protruding concrete beams and pillars in lattice structures, but is also partly closed by differently sized exposed concrete squares with a horizontal board pattern. This creates a varied and modern impression.

At the time of construction, the SZ newspaper praised the courage to do without plaster and instead show off the building material.

On May 1, 1972, Kehlen was incorporated into Meckenbeuren after 35 years of independence. The building was then used as the headquarters of the Kehlen local administration. In 1986, the former city hall was converted into the village community center and was also used by the school seminary for several years. To this day, it is also the venue for many local clubs and associations.

The façade of the exposed concrete building was later painted.

From 2004 to 2007, Jauss + Gaupp from Friedrichshafen carried out a renovation that affected roof, façade, windows and heating system. 

Heritage protected since 2017 (last updated on July 3, 2024).