Brno resolved the dispute through mediation to unblock the construction of the concert hall

Brno – Brno will exchange properties with the owner of the International Hotel, which will unblock the construction of the Janáček Cultural Center. The city will acquire land with a former transformer station near the planned concert hall and a plot with stairs from the company HIB Development, in return for which the company will receive a four-story building on Starobrněnská Street, and the city will receive over 39 million crowns. The concert hall, costing nearly two billion crowns, will offer 1,200 seats for listeners. Construction could begin in September and should last until mid-2025.

The agreement still needs to be approved by the April council. The agreement also includes the condition that the hotel owner will withdraw the appeal against the legal validity of two decisions by the Brno-Center building authority, which permitted the construction in its final form. "For a long 19 years, Brno has been preparing for the construction of a new concert hall and has been striving for about the same length of time to reach an agreement with the neighboring International Hotel on the property settlement regarding the former transformer station and the design of the square in front of the hall, which will be named after his father Ludvik at the proposal of Milan Kundera," said Deputy Mayor Tomáš Koláčný (Pirates).

According to him, the proposed procedure will allow for the creation of a center with world-class acoustics, with parameters designed by Japanese master Yasuhisa Toyota. "This is primarily due to the relocation of the technical center from the roof structure to the underground front space, which will eliminate the transfer of noise and vibrations into the hall. The city will also gain a unique opportunity to build a new quality public space directly in the historical center," Koláčný said.

The city will acquire the transformer station and stairs, while the company will receive the building on Starobrněnská, including a courtyard, with the city paying an additional 39.2 million crowns. "In case the exchange is approved, the rental rights to the non-residential premises on Starobrněnská will transfer to the new owner for all 16 tenants. Most have indefinite contracts with a three-month notice period; only one has a fixed-term contract," said councilor for property Róbert Čuma (Pirates).

The concert hall will be located at the corner of Veselá and Besední Streets. Currently, there are underground garages that are not being used. Above the garages, there will be a six-story building. In addition to the hall for 1,200 listeners, it will have dressing rooms, facilities, storage, as well as rehearsal rooms and space for technology. The construction work will also include a connection to the Besední House. The Brno Philharmonic will find its facilities in the hall.