Jadran is one of our oldest construction companies. Over the course of 70 years, it has grown step by step from a contractor for finishing works, renovation of facades and buildings under state protection and anticorrosion protection to the position of general contractor
Although they have more than 16,000 successfully completed projects behind them, they are currently fully focused on the reconstruction of the Sava Centre. This began at the end of 2021 and is proceeding according to plan. The congress section with 40 halls, a shopping area and offices is planned to open to its first guests during November 2023.
From when it was founded back in 1950 until today, Jadran has been delivering the highest quality, durable construction solutions. In the beginning this was through painting works, and then through anti-corrosion protection in large systems.
Their high quality generated demand, and demand brought expansion of the service portfolio. They started to deal with reconstructions, renovations and all finishing works. Their quality was recognised even beyond the country’s borders and today they are firmly positioned as a company that carries out large ‘design&build’ projects. Behind them are many successfully completed buildings, among them the Đerdap and Mali Zvornik hydroelectric plants, the Svetozar Marković University Library, the Royal Villa on Oplenac, the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg, the Marriot hotel in Cairo and military bases in Baghdad, and before them are further great works and ambitious plans.
THE COMPLETE RENOVATION WILL COST MORE THAN 100 MILLION EUROS
The reconstruction of the Sava Centre in Belgrade is one of the most important jobs Jadran has undertaken. The investor is Delta Congress Centre (Delta Real Estate), expert supervision is entrusted to Zoling, the designer is Centroprojekt, and Jadran d.o.o. is the general contractor. The area of the building is 100,000 m2 and it is estimated that the complete renovation will cost more than 100 million euros.
“Our company is general contractor for the reconstruction of one of the symbols of Belgrade”, says Nikola Malbaša, director of Jadran. “This is the largest congress centre in this part of Europe, a masterpiece of the Yugoslav socialist construction tradition, whose progressive achievements in the last century changed construction technology. With its grandiose size, futuristic design and content, Belgrade’s glass castle the Sava Centre has witnessed key political and cultural moments for more than four decades, while hosting several generations at full capacity.”
Following reconstruction, the Sava Centre will retain its original purpose, but this time it will be an energy-efficient building, built according to the most modern standards to become the best in the region and a globally recognisable congress centre, as it was when François Mitterrand, Indira Gandhi, Josip Broz Tito and many others walked its corridors.
CONFERENCE HALLS FOR A NEW AGE
The rebuilt Sava Centre will have the most modern conference rooms with the latest audio and visual technology, modern and attractive spaces for networking, halls for corporate meetings and parallel sessions during large congresses, a hybrid studio, restaurant and catering, and new spaces and zones, such as an immersive hall and an unusual green oasis – a winter garden. There will also be the indispensable office and shopping area with further attractions.
Our company is general contractor for the reconstruction of one of the symbols of Belgrade, the largest congress centre in this part of Europe
“The reconstruction of a building of cultural importance is in itself a serious challenge for us as contractors”, says Malbaša. “The building covers an area of almost 100,000 m2, which brings all kinds of surprises. During its four-decadelong existence, 10 million visitors have passed through, while almost nothing was invested in the building, which has led to the complete deterioration of some of its parts. Minor renovations and additions were often not properly recorded, so we also have to face the problem of lack of data. The inconsistency of archival documentation with the situation on the spot further complicates the situation.”
ALL ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN
The renovation of the facades, glass and concrete, is being done according to the original design of Stojan Maksimović with the approval of the Institute for the Protection of Monuments, but aligned with current energy efficiency standards. The visual identity, the color of the glass and the recognisable verticals and horizontals are retained, but all vastly improved by the use of highly energy-efficient glass.
“We have to date carried out the rehabilitation of the building structure, the sandblasting, impregnation and rehabilitation of the concrete surfaces on the facade have been completed, and the installation of facade glass with high energy efficiency is being finalised. Strengthening of the foundations and the building’s seismic stability have been completed. The replacement of all installation systems is in progress: new electrical installations, cooling and heating, and the introduction of completely new multimedia installations”, notes a Jadran statement. “The renovation of the roofs is almost complete and the finishing works have begun. Work has also started on the Blue Hall, which will be one of the most sophisticated elements of the renovated Sava Centre.”
QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH DEADLINES ARE THE PRIORITY
According to Malbaša, more than 600 workers are currently engaged on the project, including 30 Jadran engineers. And while we are talking numbers, we should mention almost 200 new mega-piles reinforcing the foundations, over 4,500 cubic metres of new concrete structures, 200-plus tons of new steel structures, over 15,000m2 of anti-corrosion steel protection, more than 8,000m2 of new energy-efficient glass facades, over 25,000m2 of roofing works…
“Help us keep our speed up, check we’re meeting our deadlines. We set them very strictly, but Jadran believes in its ability, and in the quality and motivation of our partners to complete the project in an exceptional way, giving it a special place in our corporate portfolio and in our hearts. It is interesting that Jadran worked on the Sava Centre during its construction in 1977-79. We were then responsible for painting and flooring works, and for anti-corrosion protection of steel structures”, recalls Jadran’s director.