Today, the construction of a new concert hall and the reconstruction of the House of Culture in the city of Ostrava were ceremonially launched. This significant event was officially confirmed by laying the foundation stone, attended by distinguished guests, including President Petr Pavel and American architect Steven Holl, who is behind the bold design of the new building.
IMOS Brno is participating in the construction as a leading member of the consortium of supplier companies. The new concert hall will have a capacity of 1300 seats, and its opening is planned for the end of 2027. According to the director of the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava, Jan Žemla, the first performance in the hall will be Janáček's Sinfonietta. In addition to the main concert hall, 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 will also include a recording studio, restaurant, café, and other spaces.
"We are proud to be involved in the realization of this significant project, which will bring not only cultural but also economic benefits to Ostrava and its residents," said Martin Nevrlý, director of the Ostrava branch of IMOS Brno. The city has attempted to build a new hall six times in the past, first in the 19th century and most recently in 1969. Now, this long-awaited dream becomes a reality, and the Moravian-Silesian metropolis will have a building unlike any other in the Czech Republic.
"This is a spiritual gift for future generations."
Steven Holl, project author
The project is estimated at 2.8 billion Czech crowns and includes the extension of a new concert hall to the existing cultural center, which will also undergo a complete reconstruction. This ambitious project is financed from various sources: the European Investment Bank will provide a loan of two billion crowns, the Moravian-Silesian Region has pledged 300 million crowns, and the state, through the Ministry of Culture, will contribute 600 million crowns. The city of Ostrava has prepared over 500 million crowns from its own resources, and the European Union will provide the same amount as a non-repayable financial grant from the fund for a fair transformation.
