Workers began erecting the structure of the burned wing of the Industrial Palace

Prague - Workers at the Exhibition Grounds in Prague's Bubeneč have begun erecting a new steel structure for the expanded wing of the Industrial Palace, which burned down in 2008. The work will take several months, and the basic skeleton of the building is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Builders are also repairing technological ducts underground, removing the original steel structure of the central hall, and repairing the concrete structure. They have started restoring stained glass windows and other artistic elements. David Čech, project manager from the company Metrostav DIZ, which leads the consortium of firms repairing the palace, said this during today's press tour.

The complete reconstruction of the palace began in February 2022 and will last until 2025, with restoration costs estimated at around 2.64 billion CZK.

"We have completed the reinforced concrete structures in the left wing, which is the underground part that serves as preparation for the installation of the steel structure. The steel structure is the supporting backbone of the entire above-ground part, and installation will continue in the next few months," said Čech.

In the central hall and the right wing, workers are repairing technological collectors and building new ones. They have also commenced work on restoring the steel structure, replacing damaged parts, adding new ones, and reinforcing the original. "We have also undertaken restoration work on joinery, carpentry, stucco, and similar elements," said Čech. The condition of the supporting concrete structure in the central hall surprised the builders. It turned out to be in worse shape than the project had anticipated. After repairing the ceiling, workers will remove the flooring and restore it.

By the end of this year, according to Čech, visitors to the Exhibition Grounds should be able to see the basic skeleton of the new wing of the palace. "We will gradually start to add the roof structure and build the façade," he said.

Workers must dismantle, repair, and subsequently strengthen the original steel structure in the central hall so that it can support greater loads, as technologies that were not previously suspended on it will now hang from it. In the northern part of the central nave, a portion has already been repaired and has its final color. The repair will proceed southward. Some parts of the structure will need to be replaced due to damage.

Builders have already excavated a pit for technical facilities behind the original, non-burned wing of the palace. The original foundations of the palace are also secured to prevent shifting. Originally, there were garage annexes behind the palace that have been demolished, and there will only be air conditioning vents on the surface.

Efforts to restore the palace have faced problems in the past. The city has been in court over insurance money from the fire. Prague councilors decided in 2018 to announce a tender, which the then-former leadership canceled in October 2019 because it was issued incorrectly. This further delayed the repair.

The palace was built on the occasion of the Jubilee Land Exhibition in 1891, according to the design of architect Bedřich Munzberger. From the beginning, it served for exhibitions and other cultural events, although it was originally intended to be a temporary structure. From 1952 to 1954, the communist government decided to change its function and had the main hall of the palace converted into a social and dance hall. Its name was also changed to Congress Palace, which became part of the then Park of Culture and Leisure Julia Fučík.