The building known as the skeleton was opened after 32 years

Ostrava - After thirty-two years since the laying of the foundation stone, a building known as the skeleton was opened today near the center of Ostrava, opposite the House of Culture of the City of Ostrava. It was originally intended to be the regional headquarters of the Communist Party, but it will now serve new technology companies as a science and technology park and business incubator by Smart Innovation Center (SIC). The company already operates two similar facilities in South Moravia. By mid-year, half of the 11,000 m² area should be occupied. Michal Burian, the managing director of SIC, told ČTK.

"There is great interest. Clients are here. They are just waiting for us to be able to convert future contracts into final lease agreements," Burian stated. According to him, companies from a wide range of fields will operate in the building. "All of them are technological fields. Companies from IT, construction companies, energy companies focusing on energy savings," he enumerated.

The facility offers 11,000 m² of space. Two-thirds should serve as a science and technology park and business incubator. The remainder will consist of multifunctional space intended for offices, shops, or medical practices. The total costs for the completion exceeded 500 million crowns, according to Burian.

The building is located in a busy area near the cultural center and the regional office; it was supposed to be the regional headquarters of the Communist Party but remained unfinished after 1989. In 2008, it was purchased for 53 million crowns by Red House Development, and the city subsequently requested several extensions for its completion. Eventually, the parties agreed that the cladding of the building - facade and roof must be completed by the end of 2016, and the entire building should be finished by the end of 2017. The first part was fulfilled by the company, which then sought for SIC to take over the construction, which eventually happened. This company was supposed to complete the construction by the contract last September.

Since it did not meet the deadline, it faced high penalties. The fine reached 35 million crowns. Due to the failure to meet the deadline, the city enforced its first part of five million crowns. The company then requested the city to waive half of the contractual penalty, which amounted to 17.5 million crowns. The councilors approved this today. In total, the company is to pay 17.5 million, including the five million already paid.