Between December 12th and 15th, the Romanian Academy Library and the National Heritage Institute headquarters host presentations and topical debates in the field of cultural heritage during the Annual Scientific Communications Sessions, under the title Innovation, approaches and challenges in protecting cultural heritage. Optim Project Management was invited as a guest speaker at the first session – Intersection between public and private works. Increasing the quality of restoration projects.
The subjects of the debate, moderated by Alexandra Stoica, Deputy Director of Restauration (INP), included Marmorosch Blank – the challenges of a private investment, Design and Build in one package or separate design and execution – pluses and minuses, Authorization of legal entities for works with historical/cultural components, Innovation and quality within the works, Project Management – good practices.
Our representative at the event, Adrian Rusu, Project Manager in charge of the renovation works for the Marmorosch-Blank Palace, who assisted the whole project that lasted for almost three years, talked about the challenges of such a complex work, for which Optim Project Management provided Design Management, Construction Project Management, Tendering, Cost & Commercial Management, FF&E Procurement and Installation, Health & Safety Coordination and Site Inspection Services.
The real challenge of the project was the complexity of the intervention, which involved structural safety, fire safety and the rigours of the Marriott brand. It was very well solved, thanks to the close collaboration between the dozens of specialist teams involved and the design software used – a very detailed 3D survey, which could be introduced into the design software and thus, the number of errors was considerably reduced and the building could be managed more easily. All the structural and architectural elements, as well as all the installations, were modelled in 3D and the interaction between them could be followed in real-time.
The conversion of the financial-banking function to the hotel was a spectacular process, that included functional reconversion, restoration and renovation of parts with historical value. Archaeological research carried out in the perimeter resulted in the discovery of archaeological ceramics and glass from the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the original elements have been preserved, especially the main hall that exposes the same marble staircase, from 100 years ago. The paintings are the original ones, made by Cecilia Cuțescu-Stork, a well-known painter of the period. The governor’s office itself was transformed and is now the presidential suit.
The hotel with a special character and a distinctive feature, transformed under the Marriott brand, is the first in Romania to join the Autograph Collection Hotels brand from the Marriott International portfolio. It has an amazing history: in 1848, Mr. Marmorosch founded a bank with his name and in 1864, the same gentleman associated with Mr. Blank. Around 1900, Marmorosch, Blank and co was a top bank, so they set about building a palace to match. They built it nearby BNR Palace, between 1915 and 1923. In 1931 the bank went bankrupt and in 1948 it was nationalized. The building became the property of the state and after 1990 it reached BRD, who added a futuristic glass annex.
