The Kaplický library can apparently be built for less than 2.5 billion

Prague - The Foundation for the Library estimates that it would be possible to construct the new building of the National Library (NK) according to Jan Kaplický's design for 2.3 billion crowns. The foundation, which announced a fundraising campaign for the realization of the architect's proposal after Kaplický's death, plans to present the cost analysis at a press conference in Prague on Tuesday. The construction cost had been reported from various sources, ranging from two to six billion crowns over time.
    However, the price is likely not the biggest problem in the case of the library construction. The issue is the location; Prague did not sell the originally planned plot in Letná to the National Library. According to representatives of Prague, the organizer of the international architectural competition, i.e., the NK, should not have held the competition without the land.
    Former NK director Vlastimil Ježek stated that he relied on the city's resolution that the land would be sold to the library in the future. After President Václav Klaus and the Prague ODS disagreed with Kaplický's proposal, the issue became politically charged, and Ježek lost his position due to alleged poor preparation of the competition. According to some politicians, the problem of the new building has been postponed as a pre-election topic for the upcoming parliamentary elections; after the announcement of early elections, it is currently unclear whether any party will support Kaplický's project.
    The new construction cost was calculated by the company Arcadis, but the organizers do not wish to share any further information, referring to the press conference. They also do not want to disclose the status of the fundraising account. The conference is expected to be attended by representatives of the Foundation for the Library Olga Sommerová, Ivo Mathé, and Jan Kasl, as well as Pavel Havlíček from Arcadis and Alena Jankovcová from the National Library.
    According to information on its website, Arcadis is involved in managing construction projects, providing related consulting to investors, and environmental protection in the construction sector. It has 200 branches in a hundred countries. It works for private investors, banks, multinational companies, public institutions, and government organizations, and also engages in the reconstruction of historical monuments.
    From the references listed online, it can be understood that the company has collaborated on the creation of many large new constructions in Prague and other cities, as well as the reconstruction of the Picture Gallery of Prague Castle, the Lion Court, and the local Bažantnice.