In the Zlín Baťa skyscraper, the paternoster is functioning again after the renovation

Zlín - After reconstruction, the paternoster or circulating lift is once again operational in the Baťa skyscraper in Zlín. The renovation of the lift cost 18.2 million crowns, said Adéla Kousalová, spokesperson for the Zlín Region, in a press release today. The region, which is located in the skyscraper, was the investor of the renovation, which lasted nine months.

"During the comprehensive reconstruction of the paternoster, the motor, brakes, gearbox, and chains of the lift, including the polygons, were replaced. All cabins were also refurbished," stated governor Jiří Čunek (KDU-ČSL). According to him, the goal was to preserve as many historical parts as possible.

The skyscraper was completed at the end of 1938, built by Jan Antonín Baťa according to the design of architect Vladimír Karfík as a new headquarters for the Baťa shoe company. At a height of 77.5 meters, it was the tallest building in Central Europe at the time of its completion. At that time, only the General Banking Union Palace in Antwerp, Belgium, stood taller at 87 meters.

Passengers can use the paternoster for movement between the second and 15th floors. With its 30 cabins and a lift height of 58.5 meters, it is the longest in the Czech Republic. The load capacity of one cabin is 160 kilograms.

The repair of the paternoster is part of the overall renovation of the building. The region has also modified the entrance and will restore, supplement, and expand the exhibitions in the building, creating a cohesive tour route through the building with a unified information and orientation system. A new exhibition will open on the observation terrace on the 16th floor.