Archbishopric has begun renovating its headquarters in Olomouc, costing over CZK 100 million

The Archbishopric of Olomouc has begun reconstruction of its historic headquarters building on Biskupské náměstí in the centre of Olomouc, which provides facilities for several dozen employees. The renovation of the late 17th-century property will require an investment of over CZK 100 million. The project also includes modifications that will reduce the energy consumption of the building. Officials are expected to move back into the renovated archbishopric next summer, Jan Smítal from the archbishopric's building department said today.

According to Smítal, the building of the curia in the centre of Olomouc underwent major repairs last time more than 100 years ago and no significant investments have been made in the property since then. The roof trusses are in poor condition and many parts need to be replaced. Among other things, the window sashes and frames need repair. "In the basements and unbasemented parts, the masonry is deteriorating due to moisture, and in several places there are visible structural defects in the masonry or vaults. The wiring of most installations is also inadequate," Smítal said.

The renovation is intended to improve the currently poor technical condition of the building, to make the use of energy more efficient and to optimise the layout of individual rooms. "The building is located in a conservation area, so it is not possible, for example, to insulate its facade," Smítal pointed out. The builders will therefore replace the roofing, insulate the attic and install new windows with better thermal parameters. The modifications are expected to bring at least 15 % savings in thermal energy. "Although gas heating will be maintained temporarily, the use of heat pumps is also being considered for the future. The new heating system is already being prepared for this," said Smítal. The archbishopric wants to receive a subsidy for the modifications that will reduce energy consumption.

According to Smítal, the project also places great emphasis on improving the operational parameters of the building. "The layout of the individual departments, whose previous layout was based more on the gradual development of needs, is now given a straightforward concept and will contribute to better orientation. It will also simplify the coordination of the cooperating departments," he pointed out.

Source: Archbishopric and CTK