The reconstruction of the cultural center in Aš is set to be completed in spring 2026

Aš - The reconstruction of the former cultural center into a community center in Aš in the Cheb region is expected to be completed in the spring of 2026, possibly even earlier, as the work is proceeding according to plan. Meeting rooms with facilities will be created in the front part of the building, while the first floor will house spaces for non-profit organizations. Historic halls will also be restored. The renovation of the heritage-protected building, constructed at the beginning of the last century, will cost 136 million crowns, said Aš mayor Vítězslav Kokoř (ANO) to ČTK.

"The work is proceeding according to schedule. There are some additional costs, currently amounting to 1.7 million crowns, and we are verifying whether they are justified. The floors are being addressed, specifically the beams in the floor, which are not in good condition, and the ceilings are also being handled. These are mostly issues that the contractor could not have predicted," Kokoř said. According to him, the additional work should not affect the completion date of the reconstruction.

Construction work began this summer. For the town of thirteen thousand, it represents the largest investment in the coming years. The project has received a grant of 54 million crowns from the Ministry for Regional Development. By the end of the year, it should invest ten million crowns, which is a condition of the grant. The completion date has been set for March 2026, but the contractor hopes to finish the reconstruction earlier, by the end of next year.

The building was erected in 1912 by the Gymnastic Society as a clubhouse with a gym, offices, a meeting room, and a pub. The building, designed in geometric Art Nouveau style, was likely created by the Aš builder Ernst Hausner. After 1925, a one-year school in the spirit of the Turner movement was established here, which was a German physical education movement with a national undertone. The gym also hosted future war criminal Konrád Henlein as a physical education teacher for the local society that owned the building.

The reconstruction work is also being supervised by heritage conservationists. "The building is unique not only for its architecture but also for its use. It dates back to the period of Art Nouveau. Even at that time, modern techniques were applied in constructions, and materials such as steel roofing or automatic chandelier lifting were used. In the 1960s, reconstruction took place," said historian Lubomír Zeman. The mayor stated that some historical items will be preserved in the building.