University officials are still considering an offer from the city authorities to buy the property, which is in disrepair due to damaged roof and column support structures in the theatre section. However, the high cost of the anticipated renovation is discouraging.
The structural stabilisation alone would require operational and safety modifications to the premises and technological equipment in excess of CZK 330 million to bring the building back into working order. Complete refurbishment would then be even more expensive. “This is a very significant amount of money, so we have been discussing with city officials the possibility of phasing the potential refurbishment. This would allow us to spread the potential costs over a longer period of time,” said MU Rector Martin Bareš.
However, there is no quick and easy solution to this seemingly trivial problem. The process requires further discussion with the authorities about the fire safety design of a heritage-protected building with a high fire risk, and the fire service must also approve the relevant project documentation. The representatives of both authorities have agreed to cooperate on the development of the documentation. “We asked the city authorities if they, as the owner of the building, could prepare a structural stabilisation project that would include a fire safety project for the building in accordance with current legislation,” added MU Bursar David Póč.
It is clear that a final decision on the future of this important building will be postponed until the next calendar year, as not only the roof of the building is in poor condition, but also the floor and the structural frame of the cinema. It is becoming increasingly clear that the cinema will remain closed until a major refurbishment has been completed.
Scala developments:
- 16 February 2023 – Brno City Council decides to immediately close Bolek Polívka Theatre and Scala University Cinema due to the building’s state of disrepair.
- 27 February 2023 – Scala University Cinema and Bolek Polívka Theatre reopened.
- July 2023 – a structural and technical survey of the building is carried out, which later reveals other serious faults in the roof structure of the building.
- 16 August 2023 – on the basis of a structural engineer’s opinion, decision is made to close Scala University Cinema and Bolek Polívka Theatre for good.
- August 2023 – Masaryk University receives an offer to buy Scala for 1 Czech crown. The offer comes after the completion of the first stage of the structural assessment, which established the condition of the supporting structures of the roof and the supporting columns in the theatre section. Masaryk University responds that it cannot realistically evaluate and consider the offer without a comprehensive structural survey.
- February 2024 – Second stage of the structural assessment of the building starts. It shows that not only the load-bearing part of the roof, but also the floor of the theatre and the structural frame of the cinema are in poor state of repair.
- July 29, 2024 – Masaryk University receives a report from the Brno City Hall regarding the technical condition of the building.
- August 2024 – Masaryk University management meets to get acquainted with the text of the report.
- Autumn 2024 – at the beginning of the academic year, members of the Academic Senate of Masaryk University, deans of the individual faculties, and the MU Board of Trustees discuss the situation regarding Scala University Cinema. At the same time, further talks with the city authorities are taking place.
- 11 December 2024 – Masaryk University asks Brno City Council to examine the possibility of phasing the possible refurbishment of the Scala building due to the expected costs. This requires the preparation of project documentation for construction permit, fire and safety proceedings, and a subsequent approval by the Fire Rescue Service.