Obermeyer Helika, a design and construction consultancy firm, has successfully completed its work as general designer for the redevelopment of part of the former Světovar brewery in Pilsen. The TechTower Technology Park, which was built there, is open from 1 February 2023 to those interested in innovative entrepreneurship and offers unique spaces for technology enthusiasts, start-ups and experienced entrepreneurs.
TechTower is one of the most modern technology parks in the Czech Republic. It was created through the redevelopment of a real cultural monument – the former Czech brewery Světovar. The main building is designed as a complex of rentable offices, prototype, testing, exhibition and lecture spaces, meeting rooms and accompanying areas for employees and operating technicians. TechTower aims to attract companies operating in the field of drone development and production or the development of software applications related to their use in practice to Pilsen.
The City of Pilsen has received a subsidy of 181 million EUR for the reconstruction of the premises from EU funds through the Ministry of Industry and Trade from the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness, Infrastructure Services – ITI (Integrated Territorial Investments) Pilsen and through the ITI (Integrated Territorial Investments) Plzeň Metropolitan Area. CZK 181 million.
For the project of reconstruction of a part of the immovable cultural monument of the former Czech Brewery Světovar in Plzeň, Obermeyer Helika provided the documentation for the building permit for the construction of the original administrative villa of the brewery, the documentation for the change of the construction before the completion of the reconstruction of the main building of the so-called lager cellars and for the whole project including the parterre, then the documentation for the execution of the construction including all engineering activities. The office also provided author’s supervision during the construction. In preparing the project documentation, Obermeyer Helika based itself on an architectural study, the authors of which were Akad. arch. Milan Varvařovský with MgA. Tereza Varvařovská.
The subject of the reconstruction were mainly two historical buildings. Ležácké cellars with a thirty-two-metre high water tower and a former administrative villa. A key factor in the reconstruction of the buildings was the fact that during the original construction of the entire complex, which took place between 1910 and 1912, reinforced concrete monolithic structures were used to an unprecedented extent. The reconstruction was therefore based on the original reinforced concrete skeleton, using the original arch shells and brick lining.
One of the main attractions of the new facility is undoubtedly the unique 10 metre deep water test tank, which will be used by companies developing new technologies, for example for testing underwater robots. Also worthy of attention is the space on the sixth floor called SeedUp Space with an extremely attractive view of Pilsen and its surroundings. An additional building, a former administrative villa, has been used as offices, warehouses and facilities for employees since September, and a kindergarten for 24 children has also been built here, which is not part of the technology park.
Design work on this project, led by Obermeyer Helika, began in 2017. It was followed up by interaction with the client in the selection of the construction contractor and then Obermeyer Helika followed up with author supervision during construction.
