The construction of the workshops and gallery in Pardubice is proceeding according to plan and is set to be completed in spring 2022

Pardubice – The shortage of construction materials does not currently threaten the construction of the polytechnic workshops and a new gallery in Pardubice. The cultural and educational center for schools and the public is expected to be completed on time, in the spring of next year, the city hall stated in a press release. The construction of the Central Polytechnic Workshops and the Gallery of the City of Pardubice began in December 2020.

"The construction schedule is currently being met. Everyone is doing everything possible to ensure that this deadline is not jeopardized by the situation in the construction market related to the shortage of materials," said Deputy Mayor Jakub Rychtecký (ČSSD).

According to Rychtecký, the polytechnic workshops will be a state-of-the-art center not only with robotics and IT classrooms. The city expects the opening of the facility to the public and the start of operations in September 2023. "Currently, partial tenders are being prepared for suppliers of special furniture and teaching aids, which will be announced in the coming days," Rychtecký said. Other tenders for equipment will be announced during the summer holidays, according to him.

Currently, the main load-bearing structures of the building are completed, the construction company is installing air conditioning and heating systems, building internal partitions, and gradually mounting façade panels and will start installing windows.

"In addition, we will also begin the installation of the roofing on the polytechnic workshops, the load-bearing structures of the gallery building will be completed, and the pouring of floors is also planned," said Milan Voráček from Metrostav.

The automatic mills ceased production in 2013. They are the work of architect Josef Gočár, constructed between 1909 and 1926. Today they are a technical cultural monument. The heritage protection does not apply to more modern extensions, which was the case with the former packaged flour warehouse, where workshops and a gallery will be built instead.

The city purchased part of the complex from a private owner in 2018 for 15.5 million crowns from the Smetana couple, who bought the abandoned complex for 22 million from a private company in 2016. The region then bought the silo for 21 million crowns, where Gočár's gallery is being built. The rest of the complex continues to belong to the Smetana couple's foundation, which also has development plans for it. Recently, the city agreed to name the unnamed area at the Automatic Mills.

The costs for construction and equipment are over 400 million crowns, with the city set to receive 152 million crowns from European grants. "Thanks to the location of the workshops and the glass sections, visitors will also have a beautiful view of the city, which I consider one of the added values of the entire project alongside the unique architecture," said Rychtecký.