The sports hall in Č.Budějovice will be designed by Atelier 8000

České Budějovice - In České Budějovice, construction of a Sports Hall Center may begin next year. It will primarily serve the extraleague volleyball players of Jihostroj. The council announced the winner of the architectural competition today. The renowned Ateliér 8000 won, which has built, for example, the Merkury shopping center with a bus station on the roof in České Budějovice. A total of 51 teams entered the two-round competition, and the winning design was not only the most architecturally successful but also the cheapest, said the committee chairman Miloš Kopřiva to journalists.
     The estimated price of the proposed building confirmed by the jury is 422 million crowns including VAT. The center will be built in stages from the city budget. The city hopes to raise funds for the long-planned construction by selling real estate, such as land in the former military area in Čtyři Dvory, stated Mayor Juraj Thoma (OPB).
     The winning design consists of three units. Within the circular structure, there is a hall for 3,000 spectators. The dominant space is covered by a dome created by wooden beams placed on a reinforced concrete structure and supporting pillars. "The main entrance of the solitary building in the park will be from the river. A training hall will be attached to the main hall, and an athletic corridor will be elevated into the air of the first floor," described Kopřiva.
     The existing Sports Hall located in Dlouhá Louka does not meet international standards and cannot accommodate all the spectators who come to support the multiple national champion. Its small capacity also limits other sports clubs that have their facilities in it.
     There will now follow negotiations with the winners of the architectural competition. The schedule for the design and construction preparation and also the final price will be discussed. The construction should be completed in about a year.
     The modern sports center is intended to serve elite, performance, and recreational sports as well as hosting social events with high spectator attendance. The hall is included in the approved medium-term investment plan of the city and also in the budget proposal for next year.
     Initially, the city wanted to renovate the existing Sports Hall, but now the council has decided to demolish it and build a new sports center. Meanwhile, volleyball players will have to travel to neighboring towns to play. The current hall includes a court for ball games, an athletic corridor, and a room for table tennis.