The planned reconstruction of the cultural house will cost Šumperk up to half a billion CZK

Šumperk - The long-planned reconstruction of the House of Culture in Šumperk is expected to cost around half a billion crowns. According to Deputy Mayor Karel Hošek (Šumperáci), the execution documentation should be completed by the end of this year. The start date for construction is not yet known, he told reporters today. The House of Culture hosts a number of cultural events, primarily the international festival Blues Alive. The architectural study for the building's reconstruction was prepared by architect Petr Hájek, who also participated in the restoration of the Upper Square in Olomouc.

"The documentation for the building permit is already at the building authority, and the designers are successfully ensuring all opinions. The House of Culture is complicated due to safety measures; we are still awaiting the formal opinion of the fire department to ensure everything meets the standards," Deputy Mayor Hošek described the preparations. "We expect that if everything goes smoothly, the execution documentation will be completed during this year," he added.

The city has been planning an extensive repair of the facility for several years. The reconstruction costs for the more than 40-year-old building were initially estimated at a quarter of a billion crowns. The amount has now almost doubled; according to the deputy mayor, it will be influenced by the materials and technology used. The city anticipates that some technologies, such as stage, scenic, or audiovisual ones, will not be included in the first phase due to costs.

"The reconstruction costs are now estimated at around 500 million crowns. With significant energy savings, the city could apply for a grant in this area," Hošek added.

The building is owned by the city, which purchased it in 2017 for 18 million crowns from the trade union Kovo Pramet. The House of Culture currently has a large multifunctional hall with a capacity of over 800 seats, as well as three club rooms, a rehearsal room, a restaurant, and a bar.

Architect Hájek envisions the House of Culture in Šumperk as a representative pavilion surrounded by a park. He anticipates greater multifunctionality for the large hall, a new hall for club events, green roofs, and an interesting facade. The designers from the Ostrava studio 38 are working on the preparation of the reconstruction.