GEMO Celebrates Successes at the 2024 Building of the Year Awards

The most prestigious title, Building of the Year, was awarded to two buildings realized by GEMO: the ROZTYLY PLAZA office building in Prague, which was praised by the expert jury of architects and civil engineers for its “…clarity of architectural and structural design and the urban concept of its placement in the area.”

Roztyly Plaza is an example of modern office architecture that breaks the stereotypical image of office buildings as “glass-and-concrete hells” that take up public space. The building stands out for its welcoming atmosphere, thoughtful design, accessibility, and seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. The clarity of its operational solution, the uniqueness of the structure, high-quality craftmanship, and attention to environmental sustainability make it an exceptional project.

The second award-winning project is the MULTIFUNCTIONAL COMPLEX HAVLÍČKOVA in Kroměříž, realized by GEMO in cooperation with VW WACHAL a.s. The jury recognized the architectural design and the high quality of craftsmanship. The project involved the reconstruction of a former 1970s district military administration building. The city purchased the complex in 2016 and in 2020 began construction of a new parking garage on the adjacent land. The project then expanded to include a complete renovation of the building, including the addition of a new floor and extensions. After these changes, the building functions as a residential building with starter apartments, while the first basement and ground floors, including the extension, house a City Police station. The new upper floors also include commercial spaces with a view of Kroměříž’s historic centre.

An integral part of the competition are the special awards, presented by the event’s partners. The National Centre for Construction 4.0 Award was given to the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies – Explorer (CEETe), which GEMO completed as the general contractor. CEETe is a cutting-edge research centre that connects intersectoral cooperation in sustainable energy, with a focus on the transfer of innovative technologies aimed at ensuring energy self-sufficiency and mineral independence in a European context.

The competition is organized by the Foundation for the Development of Architecture and Construction. In this 32nd edition, the expert jury selected from a total of 116 nominated projects from across the Czech Republic and four international buildings. The public vote was also a popular category, with 142,545 voters participating this year. In total, 15 titles and 26 special awards were presented.

A complete list of all the awarded buildings can be found on the official competition website: stavbaroku.cz.