Vítkovice plans to build the Pleskot Conference Center

Prague - The engineering company Vítkovice is preparing to build a conference center for 1,500 people by 2013. The costs are expected to be around half a billion crowns, and the company is also counting on partial utilization of European funds. This is reported by today's edition of Hospodářské noviny.
    Vítkovice aims to revive the so-called Lower Area, which is located in the middle of the city and has the status of a national cultural monument. "We want the Lower Area to gain a new function - mainly educational. And for it to grow into a pearl of not only Czech but also Central European architecture,” stated Vítkovice owner Jan Světlík.
    The author of the study is Czech architect Josef Pleskot. He plans to turn the energy center from 1911 into a center for teaching technical subjects in elementary schools. The huge gas tank from 1921 is to house the actual conference, cultural, and social center.
    Světlík also wants to make the oldest of the three blast furnaces accessible so that guided tours can be conducted. At the same time, he believes that the entire project will be completed sooner than planned, within two years.
    The owner of Vítkovice claims that his plans will not be thwarted by the economic crisis, which has significantly affected his business. The investor of the project is an interest association that includes not only Vítkovice but also the city and the University of Mining. According to HN, the region is also likely to become a partner.