The building for the Prague City Hall is now a construction site

Prague - The building on Jungmannova Street in the center of Prague, where the city council will relocate some of its officials, is currently a construction site. Workers are repairing the façade, installing new wiring, modifying interiors, and carrying out other work. According to architect Marek Tichý, the city council's requirements are quite significant. Additionally, there is little time for repairs.
The aim of the reconstruction is to restore the Škoda Palace, built in the 1920s and 1930s according to the design of Pavel Janák, as closely as possible to its original state. "We are removing layers from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s," Tichý told journalists during today's tour of the palace.
For example, the ground floor, where people will handle most requests, was previously divided by numerous partitions. Now, it will essentially be one spacious area. However, modern counters and offices made of wood and glass will be installed there.
The interior, adorned with wooden paneling and plaster stucco on the first floor, which housed the management of Škoda Works, is undergoing restoration. Experts are also expecting work on the original carpet from 1926. "It was custom-made and will be restored on-site," Tichý stated. The spaces will serve as meeting rooms after the repairs.
According to the architect, the biggest challenge is to repair the building in such a short time. "Paradoxically, a restorer and a heating technician, who is welding pipes, are working side by side here," Tichý pointed out. The relocation of the city council is set to begin in August and finish in September.
According to Tichý, it was quite complicated to obtain various materials that matched the originals. Some stones are being transported from Russia and China, while parts of the façade are being custom-made in Italy.
The building's owner, Copa Retail, which is funding the repairs, will gradually hand over the spaces to the city council, starting from the upper floor. The ground floor will be brought into operation last.
The city council rented the building to allow people to handle administrative requests at one location. Employees are currently based in more than thirty buildings throughout the metropolis. The lease is for 20 years, and the city has a right of first refusal on the building. It will pay 204.5 million crowns annually for rent and services.
Even after the city council's relocation, some buildings will remain, including the town hall on Mariánské náměstí and the adjacent office building. The offices that the city will vacate are intended to be offered for rent or sale.