The headquarters of the Liberec Region has already cost over 470 million

Liberec - Since 1999, the state and the Liberec Region have paid over 470 million Czech korunas for the construction modifications of the former building of the Research Institute of Textile Machines for the needs of the regional office. Approximately 60 percent came from the state budget. On the occasion of the ceremonial opening of the newly reconstructed entrance hall of the office, Jiří Langer, the spokesperson for the regional office, told ČTK today. For example, the headquarters of the neighboring Hradec Králové Region, however, cost more than three times as much, the spokesperson stated.
    The twenty-one-story building of the regional office made of glass and concrete is the tallest building in Liberec. It was built from 1966 to 1976 according to the design of architect Zdeněk Plesník at a cost of nearly 80 million korunas. However, only the load-bearing structure and the original air conditioning solution of the original building were preserved; the rest of the building is practically new. The main reconstruction took place from 1999 to 2000 and cost 231 million korunas. However, according to Langer, the work did not end there.
    Originally, it was expected that the region would have only 50 to 80 officials, and so other institutions, such as the Czech Trade Inspection, the Mining Authority, and even a bank were located in the building. As the office grew, these organizations had to vacate the premises, and their offices gradually underwent modifications. Even that was not enough, and in 2003, the Liberec Region bought an adjacent building and had it reconstructed. For 177 million korunas, it obtained additional offices for its officials, whose number has gradually increased to the current 350. The building also includes a large conference hall and spaces for archives.
    In recent years, millions of korunas have also been invested in improvements to the surroundings. The demolition of the old heavy fuel oil boiler house, the construction of a parking lot in its place, and the reconstruction of the access bridge over the Nisa cost nearly 20 million CZK. Additionally, the modification of the neighboring park cost another four million. Plans include the construction of another bridge to improve access directly to the regional office. The costs for it are expected to be around 20 million korunas, but the project has been halted due to planned flood protection measures on the Nisa.
    However, investments in the area of the former research institute do not appear to be ending. "We are interested in acquiring the adjacent buildings of the Research Institute of Textile Machines and the large panel parking lot," the office spokesperson said. The region offered the institute, which wants to relocate to an industrial zone, 200 million korunas for the properties. "We want to offer the modified spaces to institutions that collaborate with us in some way," Langer added. For example, the Regional Development Agency or the Euroregion Nisa could move there.