Repair of the Krnov Sokol Hall is coming to an end, with a grand opening planned for the summer

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Krnov - The reconstruction of the Sokol Hall in Krnov in the Bruntál region is coming to an end. The completion of repairs worth around 90 million crowns is planned for June, with the opening for athletes at the end of the summer holidays. The heritage-protected building, designed by Krnov native and Vienna architect Leopold Bauer in the first half of the 1930s, now has a new roof, windows, and facade. Work is currently continuing on the outdoor terraces and in the interior. This was stated today by the city spokesperson Dita Círová.

"Currently, workers are laying and repairing terrazzo floors and pedestals. In the large gym, they continue to tile the walls with acoustic panels, and they are installing anchor elements for bars, climbing frames, and other elements. Once the cladding is finished, the flooring, which will be wooden, will be put in place, and then the gym doors still need to be installed," said Pavel Andrle from the investment department of the Krnov city hall.

In the coming weeks, the builders will also face tasks such as laying wooden flooring in the small gym, completing sanitary facilities and kitchens. Protective nets will be installed in front of the windows in the large gym. After the construction work is completed, a company will come to provide interior equipment like tables, chairs, lockers for the changing rooms, and similar items.

The work was complicated by the floods of the year before last and the insufficient statics of the building. This caused delays and increased costs. The renovation was originally supposed to be finished last year. Initial cost estimates exceeded 51 million crowns. Builders discovered the first signs of insufficient statics two years ago. Then, a flood swept through the construction site in September 2024, destroying some of the already completed work. For example, the floors had to be laid again. Now probes have revealed additional insufficiently strong structures.

The reconstruction aims to preserve the historical value of the building while adapting it to modern operational requirements for a sports facility. The renovation includes strengthening the foundations, repairing the static quality of the terrace, restoring the facade, and replacing windows and roofing. Technical systems - heating, electrical installation, air conditioning, and plumbing - are being modernized. New floors will be installed, and new sanitary facilities will be created. The reconstruction also includes adding reinforced surfaces around the building and addressing rainwater drainage. Other necessary interventions include, for example, the replacement of railings at staircases, as their height does not meet current safety standards.

The sports hall is a compactly preserved monumental modernist reinforced concrete structure with a rectangular floor plan and outdoor terraces, covered by a gabled roof with dormers. It was built between 1932 and 1933 according to the design of architect Leopold Bauer, a native of Krnov and a student of the Vienna Wagner School. The building is inspired by the shape of a ship. The ground floor houses a small hall with facilities, while the large hall is located on the upper floor. The building is unique in that the vast majority of its elements and structural details have been preserved in their original form. Authenticity is further enhanced by the original gym equipment embedded in the building, such as rings and climbing frames.