The planned Europeum Business Center.foto: Courtesy of Richard Teichmannn
A new business centre, called 'Europeum,' will add 6,000 m2 of office space, 3,000 m2 of retail shops and 770 m2 of new, luxurious flats to Bratislava's city centre. The project will be run by Europeum Business Center (EBC) and will cost some 850 million Slovak crowns by the time it is finished in the year 2002.
The Europeum will be built on the Suché Mýto Square, on a lot adjoining the Hotel Fórum where the Fortúna Disco night club currently sits. According to EBC director Richard Teichmann, the site was of particular interest to his firm because of its central location.
Teichmann added that the project includes a three story underground parking garage with 183 parking spaces. "This is a great location because it is only five minutes from the border with Austria," he said. "Also, parking in the centre is a big problem for many office buildings, but we'll have many spots."
EBC is currently holding a tender to determine which real estate agency will represent the firm in negotiations with potential tenants. Although financing for construction is still being negotiated, Teichmann said that some of the office space has already been reserved.
The building, designed by architectural firm Atelier Suché Mýto, will stand six stories above street level with the bottom two levels reserved for retail shops. The top four floors will be offices and the southern section, facing Michalská Street, has been reserved for residential flats.
The project was born two years ago, Teichmann said. Since that time, his firm has run into difficulties securing ownership of the land because many different parties co-owned the plot. Besides the city of Bratislava, the Slovak Road Administration owned a share, as did no less than 22 individual citizens.
Construction is set to begin by the end of this year and will be completed two years after.
