The history of construction of the hall in Jordanki dates back to 2008. In October 2008 the Spanish architect Fernando Menis won the international architectural competition with his design, triumphing over twenty-one rivals. The jury that decided on selection of his concept, was composed, among others, of the representatives of the Association of Polish Architects. What was so good about the design presented by the studio “Menis Arquitectos”?
– The Spanish concept fits well to the character of the surroundings. It also offers very interesting solutions in the scope of interior, allowing for multi-functional, universal application of the facility – said Adam Popielewski, director of the Architectural Department of the Office of the City of Toruń and at the same time, the chairman of the jury, already after the results of the competition were announced. – The outer shell is raw and simple, but it hides the original interior, full of poetry, offering numerus possibilities. This building has every chance to become the icon of the city.
Winning of the competition gave a green light to the Spanish studio to start works upon the detailed construction design documentation. Shortly after announcing the results of the competition – in February 2009 – the Mayor of Toruń signed an official contract with “Menis Arquitectos” for drawing up the design of the hall. Based on the contract concluded with the Marshall’s Office, the authorities of Toruń already had the guaranteed UE financial support from the Regional Operational Program for the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Province.
The design was improved many times, in order to allow for the best possible use of the hall in the future for the purposes of: concerts, theatre, cinema, opera, musical shows, as well as congress and conference events. Amendments and corrections made in the design since the beginning of 2010 resulted in increase of the estimate costs of the project in Jordanki from PLN 120 to 197 million, with the same amount of co-financing from the Regional Operational Program, namely PLN 55.150.200. Introduction of these changes stopped the process of selection of a building works contractor.
– The design we work upon is a unique prototype, and in connection with this fact, it requires improvements every day. It needs time. It was similar in the case of e.g. the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao or the design of Reichstag in Berlin – explained Fernando Menis to the local press, to account for the speed of works. – The cost of the hall is not a small one, yet it will amortize over the years, due to the versatile character of its interior, or the multiple functions that it can have.
The tender procedure to find a contractor was announced in 2012. No winner was found, due to too high financial expectations of the interested companies. The similar problem occurred during the second tender proceedings, announced in November 2012. Finally, after having obtained the consent of the Toruń City Council to increase the funds for the project, in February 2013 the consortium of the companies “Mostostal Warszawa SA” (leader) and “Acciona Infrastructuras SA” (partner) was selected as the contractor, with the bid for construction of the hall for PLN 157.970.760,77.
Conclusion of the official contract with the contractor in April 2013 was preceded with signing of a conditional agreement concerning co-financing of the project from EU funds between the Mayor of Toruń Michał Zaleski and the Marshall of the Province Piotr Całbecki. Due to the fact that the total amount of the project was increased, the authorities of Toruń applied to the European Commission with the mediation of the Marshal’s Office, in order to receive its consent, required for obtaining of the guaranteed financing.
At the end of April 2013 the contractor commenced building works in Jordanki and the building was put in operation in December 2015.
Public Information Bulletin (PL)