The Czech National Building in New York is to be renovated by October 2008

New York - The reconstruction of the Czech National Building in New York must be completed by October 28, 2008, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg stated to journalists last night after familiarizing himself with the state of the work on site. The reconstruction will thus be approximately a year delayed compared to previous plans.
    The reason for the delay was primarily due to delays in the selection process for the general contractor of the building project, which is the largest investment project of the Czech state abroad. After several budget increases by past governments, the costs for the renovation of the four-story building from the late 19th century were estimated last August at 730 million crowns.
    "I admit that the reconstruction could have been carried out a little more practically," said the minister. According to him, it is a "perennial problem of all buildings abroad, because according to the laws, everything has to be decided in Prague, which is never the most practical approach."
    The dilapidated national building, built by Czech immigrants, was purchased by the Czech state in 2001 for a symbolic dollar. The building is intended to house the general consulate and the Czech Center. Additional spaces, including a large hall and a planned restaurant, are to be used for cultural and social purposes.
    Since the reconstruction began in 2003, among other things, rough work has been completed, the facade has been repaired, and the third floor has been renovated, which, according to the purchase agreement, is available to expatriate associations.
    The final phase of the reconstruction, with estimated costs of 341 million crowns, will commence next week, with PSJ Jihlava again selected as the general contractor. The construction work is expected to last until May 2008, after which the interior will be equipped and technical installations will be completed.
    The minister believes that the budget will not be exceeded and does not rule out the possibility that costs could be lower. "We are looking for ways to achieve that," said the Czech general consul in New York, Halka Kaiserová, to ČTK.
    Schwarzenberg, who, as he stated, "as a private individual renovated a dozen or more" old buildings, warned that until the construction is finished, it is never known how much it will cost. "Anyone who claims to know the final costs is an illusionist or is building for the first time," he noted.
    He also supported the principle that for certain work and contracts, such as air conditioning or heating, local American companies should be hired. From the standpoint of potential repairs, this approach is, according to him, the most practical.
    It has not yet been decided what kind of interior will be chosen for the large hall with a capacity of about 300 guests. Discussions are underway regarding whether its appearance should follow the Art Nouveau original or whether to utilize the current raw state, where the walls are exposed brick. The minister simply emphasized that the hall "must meet the needs of the 21st century."
    However, based on his experience, the planned restaurant should be completed only after an agreement with its operator. "Every restaurateur has his demands. Otherwise, we will rent it poorly," he cautioned.
    The deadline of October 28, 2008, is significant not only because it is a public holiday and the 90th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia, but also because the Czech Republic will hold the presidency of the European Union in the first half of the following year and will need suitable spaces for presenting its initiatives or for diplomatic purposes, Schwarzenberg explained.
    According to the chairman of their umbrella organization, Josef Baláž, expatriates do not regret the transfer of the building to the Czech state. "Our community was previously a kind of counterbalance to the Czechoslovak (communist) state. The situation is entirely different now, and therefore we welcome the wonderful cooperation with the consulate, the Czech Center, and the national building team," Baláž told ČTK.