Functional and representative headquarters

When the term "administrative building" is mentioned, many people might picture a panel monoblock that bores with its ordinariness and lack of imagination. However, it doesn't have to be this way. It usually depends on the investor's vision and the architect's abilities whether a standard rectangular office building will be created or an object that combines practical layout solutions with an aesthetically pleasing appearance that fits well into the surrounding environment. We can consider the new headquarters of the Tchas company in Ostrava as such a building.

The headquarters of Tchas is located at the corner of the intersection of 28. října and Kollárova streets in Ostrava-Mariánské Hory, on a site cleared by the demolition of the original administrative building from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Throughout 2004, the remains of the demolished building were restored, and the basement areas were covered to prevent erosion of the construction site substrate. The actual construction of the administrative building began in January 2006 and was ceremoniously handed over for use after less than a year of work.
The administrative building forms a dominant feature at the corner of the streets, with a height of three above-ground floors and utilized attic space. The block of this object, which includes integrated civic amenities, suitably complements the street front in line with the original development. Access is ensured at ground level from Kollárova Street, with a corner entrance to the bank branch and access to the stairwell. The stairwell is also accessible from the courtyard area.

A building of steel, concrete, and glass

The foundation of the building is a load-bearing structure made of monolithic reinforced concrete. The roof of the building consists of steel trusses with transverse frames, to which are anchored wooden purlins and roof rafters with board sheathing, waterproofing, and cladding made of titanium zinc sheet. The northern side of the building facing Kollárova Street is visually dominated by glazed walls with safety laminated glass. External wooden structures and shading slats complete the architectural expression of the entire facade. The total built-up area is 333 m² with an enclosed space of 4673 m³.

The possibilities of four floors

The purpose, function, operational, and layout solutions of the building are based on the requirements for individual types of operations and the investor's expectations and wishes. The first above-ground floor is designed as a bank branch, while the second to fourth above-ground floors of the administrative block contain commercial civic amenities – rentable offices, vertically connected between the third and fourth floors by a gallery. Movement between the floors is facilitated by a passenger elevator in the stairwell.
"The first above-ground floor, the bank branch, is accessible through the main corner entrance, the entrance from Kollárova Street to the stair space, and also from the courtyard area,” says Ing. Martin Sedlák, project manager from Technoprojekt a.s. Ostrava. “The space of the branch comprises a bank hall with workplaces separated only by interior elements, one separate workstation, and specific areas for the bank such as a discreet box, counting room, vault, ATM room, etc. Amenities here include a cloakroom, tea kitchen, and sanitary facilities for staff. Last but not least, a gas boiler room accessible from the courtyard space is also found on this floor.”
The second and third above-ground floors are designed as office spaces, including amenities – technical rooms, archives, tea kitchens, and sanitary facilities. The fourth above-ground floor forms a gallery above the third floor. Here we find a reception area, separate workstations, and sanitary facilities.

Light and space

The third and especially the fourth above-ground floors are richly illuminated by natural light, provided by 23 roof windows INTEGRA GGL from VELUX. “We chose these roof windows mainly because they are pre-installed with electric control elements, including a comfortable remote control, as well as for their good availability and completeness of information about these products,” state Ing. Sedlák and Ing. Monika Svobodová, the designer of the building's structural part.
All INTEGRA GGL windows have electric group control according to the rooms and a rain sensor for closing the windows in case of rain. The exterior roller shutters that allow for complete darkening can also be controlled electrically. Additionally, the windows in the stairwell are connected to the fire alarm system, which will open them in case of fire, thus venting dangerous smoke and allowing for ventilation of the spaces.
In the roof corner above the reception on the fourth floor, it was not possible to install roof windows due to the compact frames of the roof structure. However, the architect's requirement to illuminate the reception on the top floor of the building was solved very elegantly and practically – with four VELUX light tubes to bring in natural light. Thanks to this, the entire attic of the administrative building is richly illuminated, creating a sense of an open and airy space.

Aesthetic and functional elements can be suitably combined even in the case of administrative buildings, contributing to employee comfort, increased work efficiency, and the positive development of the building in a given location. The headquarters of Tchas is the best testament to this.

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