The concert hall in Brno will cost two billion instead of 1.3 billion CZK

Brno – The construction of the concert hall in Brno, named Janáček Cultural Center, is expected to cost around two billion crowns, compared to the originally planned amount of 1.3 billion. Today, the Mayor of Brno, Markéta Vaňková (ODS), and her deputy, Tomáš Koláčný (Pirates), informed journalists about the increased costs. The reason is the relocation of the technology center from the roof to the lower part of the building. There will also be an increase in parking spots in the underground garages, and part of the work will include the repair of surfaces in the surrounding streets. According to Koláčný, construction could start at the end of this year or the beginning of next year.

The concert hall between Besední and Veselá streets will provide 1,250 seats for visitors. It will accommodate the Brno Philharmonic, which currently lacks space for concerts. The Ministry of Culture has promised 600 million crowns for the construction, and the city will negotiate with them about increasing the support. The region has promised another 100 million.

The council of Brno approved the second update of the investment plan for the construction of the Janáček Cultural Center at its meeting today. The document specifies the scope of the investment and costs. "Increased costs are driven by the relocation of the technology center from the roof to the lower part of the building," Vaňková stated. According to Koláčný, the technology center on the roof, whose main component is HVAC, would cause problems for the acoustics or the structure of the hall due to vibrations.

The update also considers a possible expansion of the underground garages by 50 parking spaces, a barrier-free space for the information center of the Brno City Tourist Information Center, and an underground connection between the Janáček Cultural Center and the neighboring Besední House, Koláčný mentioned. The new proposal also includes an educational center in the courtyard area and the reconstruction and modification of the surfaces of nearby streets Solniční, Besední, and Veselá.

Last year, Vaňková expected construction to begin this summer. Koláčný stated today that construction will only start at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. The expected duration of the project has thus been extended to 2023.

There are already underground garages in the area costing approximately a quarter of a billion crowns with nearly 200 spaces, but they are not yet operational. They are waiting for the construction of the hall.