Budex has opened the second highest wooden structure in the Czech Republic in Planá near České Budějovice

photo: Martin J. Němeček

Planá – The company Budex has built the second tallest wooden structure in the Czech Republic in Planá near České Budějovice, with a height of 17.2 meters. The maximum permitted building height for wooden structures in the Czech Republic is 22.5 meters. It is a new four-story headquarters for the company named Budex Hub, which is energy self-sufficient. It generates electricity from the sun and stores it in a battery system for later use. Conversely, it uses water from 20 underground wells for cooling the building. This was stated today by the company's owners Pavel Schwarz Sr. and Pavel Schwarz Jr. during the ceremonial opening of the building. They did not disclose the amount of investment. The tallest wooden structure in the Czech Republic is the headquarters of the forestry-woodworking company Kloboucká lesní in Brumov-Bylnice in the Zlín region, built in 2022, which is 18 meters tall.

The building will provide facilities for more than a hundred employees who take care of tens of thousands of customers or develop robots. “This is the main reason why we decided to build new facilities, as we believe that productivity decreases, and noise and lack of coordination increase in a system of detached workplaces, especially in development projects. It is also economically better to invest in one’s own facilities than to lease office space. Since we are not only an administrative but also a development and production company, it is very important for us to invest in facilities that allow and enhance this coexistence,” said Pavel Schwarz Jr.

Construction began in September 2022. The building has a capacity of 124 people and a usable area of 2,312 m². Wood in the structure is complemented by concrete and glass. The centerpiece of the building is a staircase around which the offices are located. The interior spaces are designed to be airy, well-lit, and open offices with a capacity for up to 12 people. There are also offices for four people, closed phone booths for individuals, open workspaces, meeting rooms, relaxation areas, and on the top floor, a kitchen with a dining area and a terrace.

When more heat or cold is needed in the building, heat pumps are activated. Another source of heat for the building is waste heat from the servers.

Photovoltaic panels are on the roofs above the parking lot; solar energy will also power 40 charging stations for both company and public electric cars, including trucks. The owners plan to reduce petrol and diesel consumption for the corporate vehicle fleet, which consists of about 30 vehicles, by increasing the number of company electric cars to 11 next year.

The owners and investors, father and son Schwarz, are technology and innovation enthusiasts. They were behind the creation of companies and brands such as GoPay, GoMobil, TERMS, and the agricultural robot Roboton, which they presented at this year's agricultural fair Země živitelka. After programming, it autonomously performs various tasks, from watering and weeding to planting.