Pomeranian Philharmonic: A Step Away from Expansion
Today (September 29), we submitted the notice launching the tender procedure to select the contractor for the expansion of the Pomeranian Philharmonic—one of the flagship cultural institutions with a strong reputation both in Poland and abroad. The announcement is expected to be published in the online supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union on Wednesday. This ambitious investment is currently the most important cultural project in our region.
Publication of the notice in the Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union (TED) is mandatory for contracts exceeding EU thresholds (for construction works, €5,538,000). The notice will now be translated into the EU languages, with publication scheduled for Wednesday.
“The Pomeranian Philharmonic is an institution of great stature and deserves every resource invested in it. The expansion and modernization of this key cultural landmark of the city, the region, and the entire country is currently the most important cultural investment project in our region,” said Marshal Piotr Całbecki. “Public funds must be treated with respect. Kujawsko-Pomorskie Regional Investments, the company responsible for the documentation, prepared and refined every detail of the notice with the utmost care.”
The assumptions for the Philharmonic’s expansion were adopted by the regional self-government in 2017. Based on these, a functional and operational program was developed by Poznań-based firm Sound & Space, specializing in the design of acoustically demanding facilities. Next to the existing 1950s building, a new wing will be constructed and connected to it. This will feature a small concert hall with seating for at least 350 people, a stage for a 30-piece orchestra and a 30-member choir, professional sound and lighting, and backstage facilities for artists. The plans also include an underground parking system for visitors and performers. A new feature will be a publishing salon combined with an artistic café, which will also serve as an exhibition space for artworks. An open-access restaurant is also part of the design.
The main concert hall—renowned nationally and internationally for its excellent acoustics—will undergo a thorough renovation carried out to the highest standards. One of the central objectives is to preserve its unique acoustic qualities. The upgrades will include professional facilities for recording concerts, as well as for TV and online broadcasts, a sound and lighting control system, and much-needed air conditioning for both the stage and the audience.
The architectural concept for the expansion of the Pomeranian Philharmonic building in Bydgoszcz was developed by the Kraków-based studio Kozień Architekci.
The total cost of the investment is estimated at over 400 million PLN. The majority will be financed from the budget of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, supplemented by funds from the national program European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment 2021–2027 (FEnIKS) in the amount of 49.175 million PLN. This support was secured through a competitive call.
The Pomeranian Philharmonic in Bydgoszcz is a cultural institution of the regional self-government, co-run by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Beata Krzemińska
Spokesperson of the Marshal’s Office