A new pavilion will be built at the Brno Exhibition Centre for 400 million

Brno - A new multifunctional Pavilion D costing more than 400 million crowns will be built at the Brno Exhibition Grounds. It will serve for exhibitions, but cultural or sports events for 2,500 to 5,000 people could also be held there, said Brno's Mayor Petr Vokřál (ANO) to reporters today. According to him, the new pavilion should be completed in 2020. The financing will be provided by the Brno Trade Fairs, which is wholly owned by the city. According to the company's general director Jiří Kuliš, the exhibition areas are not sufficient for events like the Techagro fair or the engineering fair. The company is thus losing 20 to 30 million.

The city council, which also acts as the general meeting of the trade fairs, today approved the addition of the investment plan of the company for the construction of the pavilion.

"We are at a stage where there is an ideological proposal. We have agreed to approach other architectural offices to create some visualizations of what the pavilion could look like," Vokřál stated.

Pavilion D used to be in the area, but is now serving as a scientific Vida! center in Brno. The new Pavilion D would be located near Pavilion C. "Pavilion C is very valuable and protected as a monument. Its use for exhibitions is complicated because it is largely glassed. Connecting the new pavilion could create a great background while real exhibition or cultural activities would be in the new hall," Vokřál added. It is not yet clear whether the new pavilion would directly connect to another building or stand alone.

The pavilion should be completed by spring 2020 at the latest for the Techagro fair, and by autumn of the same year for the engineering fair.

The trade fairs have been operating profitably for several years. Vokřál stated that the company could pay for the building itself. If necessary, the city would be able to provide a loan. Brno Trade Fairs have an annual turnover of around one billion crowns. They employ about 240 people. In addition to exhibitions and organizing fairs, the exhibition grounds also rent space and prepare exhibitions for other fair organizers and clients around the world.

This year, the trade fairs are planning celebrations for two anniversaries. The exhibition grounds started operating 90 years ago and the first engineering fair took place 60 years ago. An exhibition titled Re:publika 1918-2018 will also open on May 26 at the exhibition grounds, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia.