Construction industry Nívódíj award for the Csokonai Nemzeti Színház building

HUNÉP Zrt., a subsidiary of our Group, handed over the fully refurbished theatre in 2023. The historic building has now been recognised by the Board of Trustees of the Építőipari Mesterdíj Foundation. By 2024, 241 buildings nationwide had earned the distinction, which was established in 1994 by the National Federation of Hungarian Building Contractors (ÉVOSZ) and the Hungarian Association of Building Science.

"Our intention was to reshape the building so that anyone stepping inside would feel the same atmosphere characteristic of a heritage opera house," explained architect Péter Kovács.

The architects on the project said a theatre is like a small city with many residents, so it had to be complemented with elements that are liveable and practical for everyone. For audiences, they added, the theatre is often only the front-of-stage area — yet behind it lies a great deal more that keeps the whole building working.

"Nobody imagines that behind it there is an almost equally large, perhaps even larger, system of spaces serving the entire building. The most important element of the Debrecen theatre is a new drum revolve, added as a completely new technical feature the theatre had never had before," pointed out architect András Tisza.

The Board of Trustees of the Építőipari Mesterdíj Foundation recognised the landmark Debrecen building in the category of Monument Restoration and Building Rehabilitation. The standard and professionalism of the construction, the operability of the investment and the cooperation between those who created it were all weighed in the decision.

"I was fortunate enough to be here in the first moments, when we took over the site. I think the spirit of the place affected everyone — those walls, showing us 160 years of history," said Miklós Bakos, CEO of HUNÉP Zrt.

Deputy Mayor István Puskás said particular attention is paid to renewing buildings under local protection. Last April the general assembly approved a call for applications under the Built Heritage Refurbishment Programme, supporting residential communities and housing cooperatives with a total of HUF 200 million. The city currently has 305 locally protected and 130 listed buildings; two buildings received the support.

The historic Csokonai Nemzeti Színház building is not, in any case, the first Debrecen facility to earn this prestigious recognition: Aquaticum Strandfürdő, the International School and Nagyerdei Stadion have all been honoured in recent years, among others.