Obermeyer Helika, a design and construction consultancy firm, has successfully completed its work as the general planner and designer for the reconstruction of the former Světovar brewery in Pilsen. The TechTower Technology Park, which has been built here, is open from 1 February 2023 to those interested in innovative entrepreneurship and offers unique spaces for technology enthusiasts, beginner and experienced entrepreneurs.
TechTower is one of the most modern technology parks in the Czech Republic. It was created by the reconstruction of an immovable cultural monument – the former Czech brewery Světovar. The main building is designed as a complex of leasable offices, prototype, testing, exhibition, and lecture premises, meeting rooms, and supporting areas for employees and operating technicians. TechTower aims to attract companies to Pilsen that are involved in the development and production of drones, or the development of software applications related to their use in practice.
For the reconstruction project of part of the immovable cultural monument, the former Czech Brewery Světovar in Pilsen, we provided documentation to obtain a building permit for construction works on the brewery’s original administrative villa, documentation for the alterations to the building before the completion of the reconstruction of the main building of the so-called lagering cellars and for the entire project including the parterre, then documentation for the execution of the construction including all engineering activities. The firm also provided author’s supervision during the construction work. In preparing the project documentation, we used architectural studies, authored by Milan Varvařovský M.Arch. and Tereza Vojtěšková M.F.A. of Vojtesek Architekti, who are also the authors of the study and the documentation for implementation of interiors.
Two historical buildings were mainly the subject of reconstruction. Lagering cellars with a thirty-two-metre water tower and the former administrative villa. A key role in the reconstruction of the buildings was played by the fact that during the original construction of the entire complex between 1910 and 1912, reinforced concrete monolithic structures were used here to an unprecedented extent. The reconstruction was therefore based on the original reinforced concrete skeleton, using the original vaulted shells and brick lining.
Undoubtedly, the main attractions of the new premises include a unique 10-meter-deep water test reservoir, which will be able to be used by companies engaged in the development of new technologies, for example, to test underwater robots. Also worthy of attention is the space on the sixth floor called SeedUp Space with an exceptionally attractive view of Pilsen and its surroundings. A supplementary building, the former administrative villa, has been used as offices, warehouses, and facilities for employees since September and a kindergarten for 24 children has been built here, which is not part of the technology park.
The work on this project began in 2017. Cooperation with the project sponsor was established concerning the selection of the contractor to carry out construction and subsequently we continued by performing the author’s supervision during the construction work.