The new headquarters of Prague 7 should cost about 250 million

Prague - The purchase of a new town hall and its renovation on U Průhonu street for Prague 7 should cost around 250 million crowns in total, said councilor Pavel Zelenka (P7S) today. Prague 7 has announced an architectural competition for the modification of the purchased building, with 90 architects expressing interest so far. The final proposal is expected to be known in May.
In the new town hall building in U Průhonu street, up to 200 officials are expected to work in an area of about 2,500 square meters. The town hall purchased the building because its current location on Kpt. Jaroš waterfront does not belong to them and they must vacate it.
The dimensions of the purchased building should not change, but the architects have complete freedom regarding its appearance. "For example, the façade of the building is completely inadequate, it is not insulated, so the architects will have free hands. They only must preserve the mass of the building, which will not increase," said Igor Kováčevič, the organizer of the architectural competition. If the town hall wanted to add another part to the building, it would have to apply for several permits, including a change of zoning plan.
The wiring and other technologies in the building will be replaced. "The building will be completely stripped down. The assessment told us that the technology is outdated, and moreover, it was not a progressive endeavor even at the time of its construction," said Zelenka.
The purchase of the building cost 89 million without VAT. A 2013 referendum binds the city district regarding the total price, in which residents decided that the new town hall must not exceed 500 million. The then leadership, led by ODS, planned an investment of more than a billion.
Architects can submit their proposals until mid-March. A commission will select eight from the submitted proposals that will proceed to the second round of the competition. The final proposal should be known around mid-May.
The building was originally constructed for the company Chirana. Construction began in 1988 and was completed in 1992.
The officials could move from the current seat on the Captain Jaroš waterfront in about two years. However, the Ministry of Finance, which owns the building, is in a hurry to move.
The relocation has been addressed by politicians for several years, and the selection of a new seat has been accompanied by various complications. The former opposition accused the councilors from ODS and ČSSD of planning an overpriced investment. Civic associations collected thousands of signatures in support of the aforementioned referendum. The then coalition rejected it, but the court ordered them to hold it.