Gemo Company Hands Over Horácká Multifunctional Arena in Jihlava

The arena has a distinctive, even iconic, red colour and forms one complex along with three other buildings. A notable feature is the airiness and permeability between the buildings above ground, while all the structures are connected underground. In the upper part of the arena, the cladding forms a ‘crown‘ that lights up and can thus communicate with the city through colours and light. The complex will offer fully equipped facilities for sporting, cultural, and social events. It features a modernly furnished hotel, a fitness centre, a gym, and a running track on the roof accessible to the public. Visitor comfort in the arena will be ensured by eight catering facilities, including a stylish pub and a café with a children’s corner. The arena will provide a home base for the legendary ice hockey club HC Dukla Jihlava, which will play its first match against Zlín here as early as 25 October.

“We are absolutely delighted with the completion of another one of our important multifunctional buildings. We managed the project within the stipulated deadline and the budget of CZK 1.9 billion,” states Petr Kráčmar, Project Manager for the Horácká Arena at GEMO, adding: “The construction was exceptionally demanding from both a technical and logistical perspective – from the precise coordination of dozens of trades in a cramped city environment to the phasing of assembly in connection with the commissioning of all technologies and systems. An interesting feature is the utilisation of waste heat and surplus cold from the ice rink’s cooling system for other parts of the building, such as domestic hot water heating, underfloor heating, or cooling of internal spaces via the air-conditioning system. Furthermore, the latest elements of sound systems and LED panels are used, including a multimedia display cube above the ice. LED advertising boards around the entire ice surface are another major attraction.”  

The goal of the project was to create a comfortable environment with quality facilities and attractive spaces for people to meet in the city centre. “We wanted the Horácká Arena to be a place not only for sport and culture but also for relaxation, socialising, and actively spending free time, 16 hours a day, 365 days a year. I believe we have succeeded in fulfilling this vision and that the residents of the city and the region will like and be proud of the new arena, and visitors will be happy to return to it,” says David Beke, Jihlava City Councillor, who oversaw the project on behalf of the investor.

The new Horácká Multifunctional Arena, built by Gemo, has a capacity of up to 5,581 spectators for sporting matches and up to 7,416 seats for concerts. It will offer above-standard services to visitors and tenants: a sports shop, a fitness centre, a public gym, accommodation with 29 rooms, and access to the rooftop running track with a view of the city. The Horácká Arena will be the first in the world to feature an LED display directly beneath the ice surface, which will allow logos, visual effects, animations, and goal celebrations to be projected. Thanks to modern technologies and thoughtful design, the arena is becoming not only a sporting but also a social and cultural centre for the region.

Key Project Parameters:

Investor: The City of Jihlava with the support of the Vysočina Region and the National Sports Agency

Architect: CHYBIK + KRISTOF s.r.o.

General Contractor: GEMO a.s.

Project Realisation: 2023–2025

About GEMO:

GEMO a.s. is one of the significant companies in building construction in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It realises timeless, modern residential, administrative, commercial, and industrial projects with an emphasis on sustainability and architectural quality, and for some, it also acts as their direct developer and investor. The company was founded in 1990 in Olomouc and has gradually become one of the largest players in the industry, while maintaining exclusively Czech ownership. It employs approximately 470 people and is part of the GEMO holding group.

For more information, please contact:

Radka L. Kerschbaumová

Crest Communications a.s.

radka.kerschbaumova@crestcom.cz

+420 733 185 662

Photo no. 1-2: Construction company GEMO a.s. handed over one of the most significant construction projects in the Vysočina region – the Horácká Multifunctional Arena (HMA) in Jihlava: Source: GEMO Archive