In Brno, the construction of a concert hall has begun, Fiala praised the city for its major projects

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Brno - Prime Minister Petr Fiala, during the inauguration of the construction of the Janáček Cultural Centre in Brno today, praised the city for implementing such large projects. According to him, Brno deserves the long-awaited concert hall not only because of tradition but also due to the quality of the Brno Philharmonic. Along with Fiala, Minister of Culture Martin Baxa and Mayor Markéta Vaňková (all ODS) laid the foundation stone of the concert hall building. The six-story building in the gap between Veselá and Besední streets will serve as a concert hall for the Brno Philharmonic, with an audience capacity of 1,200. The construction is expected to cost 2.3 billion crowns excluding taxes and should be completed in 2027.

"I am glad that Brno is developing and managing to realize large projects that seemed unrealistic just a few years ago. A hall is being built at the exhibition center that will help not only, but primarily, sports, and now we are starting to build the concert hall that we have been waiting for for many years. Brno deserves this. It is a city that is connected with Leoš Janáček. It deserves this not only because of tradition but also because of the quality of our orchestra," said Fiala in his hometown, adding that the Brno Philharmonic lacks a dignified hall.

The discussion about a new concert hall in Brno has been ongoing for nearly 100 years. "This location was identified as suitable back in the late 80s. As an investor, we wanted the construction without compromises. A modern and capacity-appropriate hall with top-notch acoustics that can be compared to the best in the world, but will also enliven the public space in the center," Vaňková stated.

Director of the Brno Philharmonic Marie Kučerová added that thanks to the emphasis on acoustics, the sound and visibility will be excellent from every seat in the auditorium. "Listeners from Brno and the surrounding area will thus be able to appreciate what Brno Philharmonic musicians experience in the best concert halls in the world on their tours," she added.

The project preparation has dragged on for years, and in the first phase, underground garages were built in 2018. However, Brno repeatedly encountered obstacles with the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS), where Gardenline complained about the form of the tender procedure. Last June, ÚOHS ruled that the contracting authorities, namely Brno and Brno Communications, did not act against the Public Procurement Act.

In August, a contract was signed with the contractor, which is the consortium of OHLA ŽS, Strabag Civil and Engineering Construction, and Unistav Construction. Preparatory work began in the fall, and recently workers demolished a transformer station that previously belonged to the International Hotel. "The builders are carrying out the necessary relocations of high and low voltage and sewage in Veselá street, which will take another two months. In the near future, it is planned to statically reinforce some parts of the underground garages regarding the new layout and new loads from the upper construction," said the Mayor's Deputy René Černý (ANO).

An archaeological survey is also necessary. It will be followed by digging and securing the construction pit, and then the drilling of piles for the technological center of the new building. "The workers could start building the above-ground part of the building this year," Černý said. The company plans to use valuable technical solutions and materials. General Director of OHLA ŽS Roman Kocúrek also mentioned the extensive use of concrete exposed prefabricated units made using 3D printing or wooden cladding from exotic woods with high fire resistance requirements.

For the financing of the building, the Ministry of Culture will contribute 600 million crowns, Brno Communications 332 million, and the South Moravian Region 100 million crowns. The remainder will be covered by the city's budget. "This is a project that has a clearly regional significance. I believe that the hall will be significant even on an international scale. It combines extraordinary quality of execution, emphasis on acoustics, and appropriate facilities for individual concerts. Also, it will grow in a city that is so inseparably connected with Czech music and musical culture," noted Minister Baxa.

The Janáček Cultural Centre is one of three similar buildings currently being prepared in the Czech Republic. A bit further along is the construction of a concert hall in Ostrava, where the foundation stone was laid last July. The construction of the hall, with a capacity of 1,300 seats, associated with the reconstruction of the House of Culture of the City of Ostrava, is expected to last until 2027. The costs of the Ostrava project are approximately 2.8 billion crowns, and the entire project is projected to cost about four billion crowns. In Prague, the construction of the Vltava Philharmonic near the Vltavská metro station is being prepared. It is set to start in 2027 and conclude five years later. According to the latest information, it is expected to cost 13 billion crowns.