The renovation of the Hradec Králové Gymnasium B. Němcová will cost more than 27 million CZK and will start in February

Hradec Králové - The Hradec Králové Region will begin the reconstruction of the façade of the historic building of the Božena Němcová Grammar School in Hradec Králové in February. The work on the façade, restoration of the outdoor staircases, and other modifications will cost more than 27 million crowns, and the builders will work while the school is in operation. This was stated today by the spokesperson for the region, Martina Svatoňová. The Hradec Grammar School of Božena Němcová is a contributory organization of the region.

"We plan to start construction work in the second half of February 2024, and it should be completed in about a year and a half. The region will pay 27.3 million crowns excluding VAT for the project documentation, façade repair, removal of the shelter, and restoration of the outdoor staircases," Svatoňová told ČTK.

The construction modifications also include bricking up the exit to the courtyard and demolishing the shelter. The builders will also dismantle all the outdoor staircases, which will be restored to their original design. According to regional representatives, it will also be necessary to treat the sandstone plinth of the entire building, which needs to be cleaned, salt removed, and then impregnated with a water-repellent agent.

"The cameras, sensors, and lighting can only be placed on the façade after the issuance of a binding opinion from the heritage protection authority," Svatoňová stated.

The façade of the historic gymnasium building features various decorative elements, so its restoration is subject to strict heritage conservation criteria. "Workers will first remove the original paint from the façade, chip away at the façade in critical areas, and clean it mechanically. In some places, the plaster will need to be supplemented, and repairs to the decorative elements will be carried out," said Deputy Governor for Investments Pavel Bulíček (Pirates).

The Božena Němcová Grammar School in Hradec Králové educates 530 students in 18 classes. The school offers a six-year type of study, with a priority on teaching mathematics, the Czech language, and foreign languages.

The Neo-Renaissance building was constructed at the end of the 1990s in the 19th century according to the design of Václav Bahník and Tomáš Suhrada. The artistic decoration, including stucco work, was provided by Jiří Říha's company. The current gymnasium building, originally a building for elementary and municipal schools, is an extensive historicizing building complex at the intersection of Pospíšilova Street and Šimkova Street, as reported by the Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Králové.