construction is well underway on a large-scale progress in Brno, Czech Republic, poised to revitalize a former industrial area. The Nový Dornych complex will eventually house a mix of residential, commercial, adn retail spaces on the site of the former Prior factory. As construction progresses, crews are not onyl building upwards – reaching a depth of 43 feet below ground – but also uncovering layers of history with the exhumation of 128 graves dating back to the 7th and 6th centuries BC.
Construction is progressing on a large-scale development project in Brno, Czech Republic, that will transform a former industrial site into a mixed-use complex featuring retail space, apartments, and offices.
Developers have reached the lowest excavation point, approximately 43 feet below the surface, and completed the perimeter wall of the construction pit and the foundation slab for one of the buildings, which will house a Tesco supermarket and 186 rental apartments.
Photo: developer archive
The lowest excavation point has been reached at the site.
“Work is proceeding according to schedule,” said Martin Štěpánek, a manager with the development company Crestyl. “The demolition of the old building is complete, and the rescue archaeological survey is largely finished.”
Archaeological surveys have uncovered remnants of the area’s industrial past, as well as two cemeteries. A total of 128 graves have been carefully exhumed and relocated, with the oldest finds dating back to the 7th and 6th centuries BC. Developers have collaborated with archaeologists to minimize disruption to the construction timeline.
The project, known as Nový Dornych, is being built on the site of the former Prior factory and surrounding land. The construction pit has been secured for five of the six planned buildings, and more than half of the earthworks have been completed.
Photo: developer archive
The six buildings will offer apartments, offices, and shops.
Currently, construction crews are driving piles and drilling geothermal wells, which will provide energy for the entire project. Approximately a quarter of the 83 geothermal wells have been completed. “The deepest is 235 meters [771 feet]. Just the Petrov tower is 84 meters [276 feet] tall, so we’re going three times as deep into the earth as the height of Petrov,” Štěpánek noted, adding that the total length of all the wells will be 11.8 miles.
Developers are also planning a unique feature: a roofed plaza, envisioned as a central gathering space between the buildings. “This element will be an iconic feature of the project. It will take the form of flowers that will cover the entire interior space. The design is inspired by the Gothic vaults of nearby Petrov Cathedral,” Štěpánek explained. He added that the developer prioritizes “wow factors” that set their projects apart.
Photo: developer archive
There are currently two cranes on site, with a total of eight planned.
Two cranes are currently on site, with six more planned, including two that will be 246 feet tall – potentially the tallest cranes operating on any construction site in the Czech Republic. Construction plans also include space for a future north-south rail diameter, a proposed underground rapid transit line intended to alleviate traffic congestion related to the planned construction of a new train station.
The Nový Dornych complex is slated to open in the spring of 2028, with initial phases opening to the public. Further work will continue after the initial opening, but developers say it will not impact public access.
The complex will include six buildings, offering 186 apartments, 26,000 square feet of office space, and 27,000 square feet of retail space. Plans also include a hotel, clinic, restaurants, bars, cafes, and other services. The center will be connected to an underpass beneath the train station and a footbridge over Úzká Street, leading to the Vaňkovka shopping center.
