Prague is completing the order for the construction of the Industrial Palace

Prague – The Prague city hall is finalizing the tender for the reconstruction of the burned wing of the Industrial Palace. They aim to announce it in the coming weeks, and the construction company should be selected by the end of this year. In addition to the tender for the reconstruction, the city's leadership is also finalizing the assignment for the project manager. The deputy mayor Pavel Vyhnánek (Prague Sobě) said this to ČTK today. Both tenders were announced by Prague in the previous electoral term. The current leadership canceled them due to errors in the documentation. The left wing burned down in 2008. The palace was built in 1891.

"Despite the slight delay we experienced due to the pandemic and government measures, we are finalizing the last details of the tender and contractual documentation. I expect that within a few weeks the tender will be announced. We did not want to issue it during the state of emergency," said Vyhnánek.

The city will first announce the tender for the reconstruction of the burned wing. If everything goes smoothly, according to Vyhnánek, the construction company will be selected by the end of this year. After the city hall announces this tender, it will also issue a second one for the project manager. In this case as well, the city is finalizing its preparation.

The repair project will maintain the original appearance of the building from 1891. It includes the completion of additional facilities and technical adjustments to the protected monument.

In addition to the reconstruction of the palace, the city is planning further investments at the Exhibition Grounds. A contract has been signed with the contractor for the renovation of the Bohemia restaurant, which should start shortly. The deadline for appeals regarding the contract for the reconstruction of the Křižík pavilions is slowly coming to an end, with pavilion D being the first to be repaired. "We would like to announce the tender for the reconstruction of the Spiral, which is in a deplorable state, soon. It is a beautiful building that has been unused for years. The project is already completed, and the tender is wrapping up," said Vyhnánek.

The Industrial Palace was built for the Jubilee Land Exhibition according to the design of architect Bedřich Munzberger. It has served since its inception for exhibitions and other cultural events, although it was originally intended to be a temporary structure. From 1952 to 1954, the communist authorities decided to change its function, and the main hall of the palace was converted into a social and dance hall. Its name was also changed to the Congress Palace, which was part of the then Park of Culture and Leisure of Julius Fučík.