After four and a half years of intense works, the renovated Industrial Palace at Prague’s Exhibition Grounds is reopening. The reconstruction, which cost approximately CZK 3 billion, included the renovation of the central hall and right wing and the completion of the burned-out left wing. The aim of the works was not only to restore the palace to its original appearance, but also to create a modern exhibition space that meets the demands of the 21st century event organisers and visitors.
„The renovation of the Industrial Palace was one of the most demanding projects in my charge. Unexpected challenges always arise with the major renovations, but I am glad that we embarked on this renovation after the devastating fire in 2008 in the last election period. The Industrial Palace dominates the whole Prague Exhibition Grounds and is one of the most impressive buildings in the entire city. I consider its renovation after the devastating fire in 2008 to be a debt to future generations and I believe that its reopening will significantly improve the operating result of the complex,” says Adam Zábranský, Prague City Councilor for Property.
“After eighteen years, we are not just opening a reconstructed building for Prague. We are returning the Industrial Palace to it as a whole. We have managed to preserve its historical value while creating a modern space that can once again serve Prague residents and visitors for generations to come,” says the Mayor of the Capital City of Prague, Bohuslav Svoboda.
“I remember the Industrial Palace as a little boy from the General Czechoslovak Exhibition in 1991, and even then I admired its unique architecture. I am all the more happy that today, after years of demanding restoration, we can admire it again in all its glory. I am glad that the first event will be Designblok, which will symbolically connect historical architecture with contemporary design. In addition, the renovated palace will significantly expand Prague’s possibilities for organizing large international congresses and conferences and thus strengthen our offer in the field of meetings industry,” says Tomáš Slabihoudek, Prague City Councilor for Culture, Tourism, Monument Preservation and Exhibitions.
The complex restoration of the Industrial Palace began in January 2022 and involved hundreds of workers. In total, up to 2,000 people were engaged in the project. In addition to construction companies, designers and technical specialists, a wide range of traditional crafts were involved in the reconstruction – from restorers, carpenters, painters, blacksmiths and plasterers to pipe fitters and tinsmiths, stained glass artists, goldsmiths and watchmakers.
The reconstruction was highly challenging since the building itself had undergone more than 130 years of gradual interventions, reconstructions, additions, and technical modifications. Many of these were not sufficiently documented, and the true condition of some structures could only be determined after they were uncovered.
„At this point, I am struggling to find words: everything essential has been said during the years of the restoration of the Industrial Palace. The reconstruction itself was an extraordinary journey, which required thousands of hours of work and efforts by hundreds of experts, craftsmen and other professions. Every detail, from rivets to windows to structural elements of this unique historical building, required maximum care, respect and craftsmanship. Therefore, a big thank you goes to everyone who participated in the restoration. The exhibition in front of the palace commemorates their work and determination, without which this project would not have been possible to complete. I believe that today we are opening not only the reconstructed Industrial Palace, but also a new chapter of the Prague Exhibition Grounds, now aiming to join the European event elite,“ explaines Tomáš Hübl, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Výstaviště Praha, a.s.
The most important part of the renovation is the completion of the burnt-out left wing of the palace. Its new steel structure is based on the historic structure of the right wing and respects its proportions and appearance. At the same time, it meets current load, safety and operation requirements. A new basement with technical facilities, warehouses, technologies, supplies and visitor facilities was created under the left wing. It also includes a truck entrance, which will improve logistics when preparing large exhibitions and other events.
The total cost of the reconstruction and completion is approximately CZK 3 billion. The reconstruction and completion of the Industrial Palace is co-financed by the European Union from the Emissions Trading System through the Modernization Fund and will contribute to reducing final energy consumption, saving primary energy from non-renewable sources and saving CO₂ emissions. The intermediary entity is the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic. Support can reach up to CZK 293.5 million.
The most demanding restoration work was carried out in the central hall. It represents the most magnificent part of the palace and is home to a number of historical elements. Special attention was paid to the clock tower, which is a distinctive element of the Industrial Palace. Its structure is approximately 51 meters high and weighs approximately 26 tons. As part of the reconstruction, it was taken down, completely restored and then reinstalled. The historic clock mechanism, dials and hands were also renovated.
One of the most sensitive restoration tasks was the restoration of the painted wooden ceiling of the central hall. It has an area of approximately 2,737 m² and consists of 1,232 individual planks arranged in 77 fields. Each plank was marked during dismantling so that its original position could be preserved.
The stained glass windows are also a prominent symbol of the restoration. The entire ensemble consists of 5,023 glass panels with a total area of 2,256 m², which are composed of more than 107,700 individual pieces of glass. The stained glass windows were dismantled and restored in the specialized glass factory Kolektiv Ateliers in Nový Bor. The restorers worked not only with the glass itself, but also with the lead outlines, colors and processing methods corresponding to the historical original.
After the reconstruction, the Industrial Palace returns not only as a historical monument, but also as a modern exhibition, meetings and cultural space. For example, the palace combines several methods of heating and cooling. Modern technological equipment is complemented by air conditioning, fire systems, sprinklers, water mist, division of the space into smoke sections, emergency lighting, local battery systems and diesel generators. The historical appearance is thus given a contemporary technical background that will allow the building to serve future generations.
The reconstruction of the Industrial Palace is part of the long-term revitalization of the entire Prague Exhibition Grounds. Its use includes trade fairs, meetings, cultural and social events, sports, but also open public space. In this system, the Industrial Palace represents not only the most important historical building of the area, but also one of its largest internal capacities. The first major event in the renovated palace will be Designblok in the fall of 2026. Subsequently, the Industrial Palace will return to trade fair operations and will also offer facilities for meetings, cultural, social and other large events.
From September 25 to October 11, there are guided tours of the restored palace, during which visitors can learn more about its history and the demanding reconstruction. However, the tours are currently sold out and other dates will be announced, so you should keep an eye on the Prague Exhibition Grounds website.
Industrial Palace in numbers
- May 1891 – ceremonial opening of the Industrial Palace as part of the Jubilee Provincial Exhibition
- October 2008 – fire in the left wing
- January 2022 – start of complete reconstruction of the palace
- September 2026 – completion of construction works on the restoration of the palace
- CZK 3 billion – approximate total reconstruction costs
- 51 meters – height of the clock tower
- approx. 26 tons – weight of the steel structure of the clock tower
- 5,023 – number of restored stained glass panels
- 107,700+ – number of individual pieces of glass in stained glass windows
- 2,256 m² – area of stained glass windows
- 2,737 m² – area of painted ceiling of central hall
- 1,232 – number of painted ceiling planks
- 77 – number of painted ceiling fields
- 70 – number of boreholes for heat pumps
- 4.5 years – duration of the reconstruction and completion