The construction of the new concert hall in Ostrava will be more expensive than expected

Ostrava - The construction of the new concert hall in Ostrava, designed by American architect Steven Holl, will be more expensive than expected. According to current estimates, the construction costs alone could rise to 3.6 billion crowns, compared to the originally contracted 2.8 billion crowns. Nevertheless, the total costs of the project could remain at the planned more than four billion crowns. This was stated by the deputy mayor Břetislav Riger (Ostravak). The expected completion date for the concert hall construction, which is also tied to the reconstruction of the Ostrava Cultural House, has also been pushed back. When construction began, the year was set for 2027.

"I try to be a realist and I speak of the second half of 2028," said Riger. The second phase of construction started in July and the construction company has three years for it. The deputy reminded that the construction of the concert hall is based on a so-called measured contract, where the work is priced based on a certain volume, which may differ during the actual realization. "I still hold to the fact that we won't be far from the truth that the total cost will be around 4.1 billion crowns. The organ will be 100 million crowns and regarding the equipment, we are rather solving the part of the Cultural House of the City of Ostrava, such as offices and rehearsal rooms, these are things that might not be that costly. As for the hall's equipment, much of it should already be in place," Riger noted.

The construction entered its second phase about a quarter-year behind schedule. The reason was the necessary adjustments in the foundation of the building to meet the requirements for its settling. However, the work has been continuing since then, according to the deputy. "At the construction site, we currently have two jet grouting columns and we need to verify their settling," Riger stated. He added that the construction is very demanding and any mistake would pose significant complications for further progress. The static load of the beam ceiling in the cultural house was also being checked, where large water tanks were placed. "We loaded it with 70 tons and measured how the ceilings deflect, and when we remove it, whether they will spring back," Riger pointed out.

The design of the concert hall in Ostrava was presented in July 2019, when the results of the largest architectural competition in the modern history of the city were announced. The authors of the winning design are the Steven Holl Architects studio from New York and Architecture Acts from Prague. In 2021, the American magazine Architizer ranked the project among the ten most anticipated buildings in the world. The new complex will serve as a venue for music, culture, production, and education, and will also be the headquarters of the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra in Ostrava.

The concert hall is set to have 1,300 seats. The project also includes a theater hall with a capacity of 490 seats, a chamber multifunctional hall with 515 seats, a lecture multifunctional hall with 120 seats, and an educational center with 200 seats. The complex is also set to include a recording studio, a restaurant, a café, and other spaces. The city attempted to build the new hall six times in the past, first in the 1860s and most recently in 1969.