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The Aleksander Węgierko Drama Theatre in Białystok is undergoing modernisation

News date: March 28, 2022
The Aleksander Węgierko Drama Theatre in Białystok is undergoing modernisation

The Aleksander Węgierko Drama Theatre in Białystok is undergoing intensive renovation works. The modernisation of the institution is one of the most important cultural investments of the Podlaskie Voivodeship in recent years.

 

The seat of the Białystok theatre was built in 1938, and then rebuilt in 1948 after suffering damage during the war. Since then, the building has never been comprehensively renovated. Last year, this became possible, thanks to the financial support that the provincial authorities obtained from the Local Government Investment Fund, as well as from the Polish Deal programme.

 

‘In line with promises made during the election campaign, we are modernising the Podlaskie voivodeship’s cultural institutions. To renovate and equip one of the most important of them – the Drama Theatre in Białystok – we, as the local government of the voivodeship, obtained significant co-financing from government funds – a total of PLN 51 million. I would like to remind you that the cost of the entire investment is PLN 58 million. The remaining amount will be financed from the voivodeship budget’, emphasises Artur Kosicki, Marshal of the Podlaskie voivodeship.

 

Budimex SA, which won the tender for the investment last year, is responsible for the modernisation of the Drama Theatre.

 

‘We started the demolition works in July 2021. We dismantled electrical, teletechnical and sanitary installations, elements of theatrical equipment, lifting equipment; demolition of the main stage ceiling, the chamber stage, partition walls and ceilings, foundation shoring with the jet-grouting method, foundation works, part of partition walls and insulation of the building’s foundations were carried out’, says Piotr Doroszko – Budimex SA Contract Director.

 

Works not previously foreseen in the project are also underway.

 

‘In order to avoid risks related to the safety of the structure, redesigning of the ceiling over the main stage and the auditorium enclosure is in progress. The construction of monolithic reinforced concrete structures for the foundation of the main stage is also ongoing. Masonry work and installation of electrical, teletechnical and sanitary systems is being carried out. Work is underway to prepare for the replacement of the roof sheathing and external window joinery’, adds Piotr Doroszko, Budimex SA Contract Director.

 

The Theatre’s modernisation project was drawn up by architects from the ‘KOZIEŃ Architekci’ firm in Krakow. The planned completion date of the investment is the end of April 2023.

 

‘The renovation works are in full swing. We hope that the investment will be completed according to the schedule. Both artists and spectators are very much looking forward to the return of our theatre activities to the stage on Elektryczna Street’, said Piotr Półtorak, Director of the Drama Theatre.

 

In the second quarter of this year, The Marshal’s Office of the Podlaskie Voivodeship intends to announce a tender for the supply of equipment for the Drama Theatre, including stage technology. New, modern solutions relating to stage technology, lighting and electroacoustics are planned as part of the modernisation. The total cost of the investment is estimated at PLN 58,000,000. It is already known that this amount will be increased in connection with obtaining additional funds from the Polish Deal programme.