Prague Congress Centre (PCC) broke ground, 16 June, on a new Exhibition Hall, which will expand its capacity by 5,000sqm of modern, multifunctional exhibition space. The foundation stone was laid by Lenka Žlebková, chair of the Board and CEO of PCC; Bohuslav Svoboda, mayor of the City of Prague; Zdeněk Kovářík, Prague City councillor for finance, and representatives of construction company GEMO a.s. and architectural studios OCA and CMC Architects.
The new hall represents one of the largest investments in the 45-year history of the PCC campus, with a total value of approximately CZK1.35bn (US$64.8m). Construction will take 27 months and upon completion in 2028, Prague will be able to host world-class congresses that PCC has been forced to turn down in recent years due to capacity constraints.
The new hall will be divisible into up to five independent sections. Combined with the existing 70 halls and lounges, it will create a fully integrated congress campus capable of hosting an entire major international event under one roof, from the main academic programme and large-scale exhibition through to a gala dinner for 1,500 guests. The total exhibition capacity of the campus will rise to 21,000sqm.
“International congresses today are looking for much more than adequate capacity. Organisers expect flexible spaces, cutting-edge technology, sustainability and a strong destination experience. That is precisely what our new hall delivers. And the demand is not hypothetical. PCC already has enquiries from approximately 15 world-class congresses, particularly in the field of medicine, whose organisation is directly contingent on the completion of the hall,” said Lenka Žlebková.
The majority of costs will be covered by PCC’s own resources (CZK1bn) , with part of the investment supported by the City of Prague
The construction of the new Exhibition Hall represents an investment of approximately CZK 1.35 billion. Prague Congress Centre has set aside more than one billion Czech crowns from its own resources for the project. The City of Prague, as sole shareholder, approved a capital contribution of CZK600m at the end of last year, covering the Exhibition Hall and a range of additional development projects, including the remediation of the southern car park, further reduction of energy consumption at the Vyšehrad Business Centre, modernisation of stage technologies, and revitalisation of the public spaces surrounding the centre.
“The City of Prague is investing in PCC’s development with a clear objective: to strengthen Prague’s long-term position as one of the world’s leading congress destinations. Major congresses bring the city prestige, expertise, business connections and significant public revenue. The new hall is therefore not just an investment in PCC, but in the economy and reputation of Prague as a whole,” says Zdeněk Kovářík.
Construction of the shell and core is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027, with final handover planned for September 2028. The general contractor is GEMO a.s., which won the tender through an anonymous auction process in 2023.
The hall has been designed in an unconventional form as a levitating tube nearly 177 metres long.
The architectural design was created by Barcelona-based OCA Architects in collaboration with Czech studio CMC Architects. The design emerged from an international architectural competition held in 2017 and connects the new capacity with a respectful approach to the original PCC architecture and the surrounding public space. The hall is targeting LEED Gold sustainability certification, with the project incorporating a retention tank for rainwater harvesting and an expansion of green areas around Pankrác Square.
Following the completion of the Exhibition Hall, the northern terrace overlooking Prague Castle will be transformed, gaining a café, a viewing point, outdoor seating and step-free access connecting directly to Vyšehrad metro station. The new public space will serve both congress visitors and residents of the capital.
Prague consistently ranks among the most attractive congress destinations in the world according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), placing sixth globally in the recently released 2025 ranking. The new Exhibition Hall should consolidate this position, as PCC reports it currently has to decline enquiries for congresses it cannot accommodate within its current capacity.
Source: www.exhibitionworld.co.uk
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