On the construction of the 14/15 Baťa Institute, 80 million CZK has already been spent

Zlín - Builders have already spent around 80 million crowns on the complete reconstruction of buildings 14 and 15 in the former factory complex of the Baťa company in Zlín in just three months. Only the skeleton of the structures remains, which workers are currently reinforcing to withstand future loads. The renovation, costing 900 million CZK, will create the 14/15 Baťa Institute, which will house the Regional Gallery of Fine Arts, the Museum of South-East Moravia, and the Regional Library of František Bartoš.
     "All columns and supporting beams are being reinforced. The floors have been demolished and new lightweight floors will be laid to avoid overloading the structure. In building 15, two ceilings will be completely torn out and newly concreted. These are the most demanding tasks. We are discovering some anomalies here, and we need to make adjustments or add missing reinforcements in some columns," described the current work project manager Zdeněk Adamec.
     According to the deputy governor Libor Lukáš, the renovation of building 14 and the newly created square between both buildings will be completed in the fall of next year. Building 15 is expected to be finished by April 2013. The relocation of all three institutions is planned for the fall of that same year. "Then we will address operations, coexistence, and one integrity of the three organizations, which will be a fundamental change for them. However, they will retain their identity and authenticity," Lukáš told reporters today.
     The project, besides providing a new headquarters for significant cultural institutions that currently operate in unsatisfactory conditions, will revitalize another part of the extensive factory complex. The preparation of the project alone took seven years. The region secured a grant of 500 million crowns from European Union funds for the project. The construction will cost about 725 million, with interior furnishings amounting to approximately 95 million crowns, and the remaining funds will go to projects or technical supervision.
     The 14/15 Baťa Institute will, according to Lukáš, be among the most modern cultural centers in Central Europe. At the same time, it will continue the tradition of Baťa’s educational institutions. "We want not only to convert both buildings but also to return to these roots," he added. According to architect Petr Všetečka, the reconstruction of the buildings from the 1940s designed by architect Jiří Voženílek is exceptional due to the placement of three regional institutions and the construction methods involved.
     "Relatively unique building stabilization technologies are being used here, whether for static purposes or for facade stabilization in terms of energy. The buildings were built for production 60 years ago, when completely different parameters were needed. The gallery and museum environment is, for example, the most demanding in terms of climate," stated Všetečka, adding that the exterior of the buildings should remain as true to the original appearance as possible.
     "We would be happy if the exterior turned out like that of building 21, meaning it doesn’t change much," the architect added. Building 21, Baťa’s skyscraper, was renovated by the Zlín regional government in 2004. The reconstruction of the current headquarters of the regional office cost nearly 630 million crowns.