The Csokonai National Theatre Building Wins a Construction Excellence Award

The Csokonai National Theatre in Debrecen has received the Construction Excellence Award in the “Monument Restoration and Rehabilitation” category, granted by the Board of Trustees of the Construction Master Award Foundation. As of 2024, a total of 241 buildings across Hungary have received this prestigious recognition. The award was established in 1994 by the National Association of Construction Contractors and the Hungarian Society for Building Science.

“Our goal was to redesign the theatre in a way that, upon entering, visitors could still feel the same atmosphere that is characteristic of a historic opera house,” explained architect Péter Kovács.

According to the project architects, a theatre functions much like a small city with many residents, so the building had to be supplemented with practical and livable elements for everyone. They noted that for many, the theatre experience begins and ends with the stage, yet there is so much more behind the scenes that supports the functioning of the entire venue.

“No one imagines that behind all this lies a spatial system just as large—or even larger—which is essential for the operation of the entire building. One of the most important additions to the Debrecen theatre is the new drum revolve stage, a completely new technical feature the theatre did not previously have,” highlighted architect András Tisza.

The Board of Trustees of the Construction Master Award Foundation honored the iconic Debrecen theatre in the Monument Restoration and Rehabilitation category. The decision considered not only the quality and professionalism of the construction but also the long-term operability of the investment and the cooperation between all parties involved in the project.

“I was fortunate to be present the very moment we took over the construction site. I believe everyone was moved by the spirit of the place—the walls that reflected 160 years of history,” said Miklós Bakos, CEO of our company.

Deputy Mayor István Puskás stated that the city places special emphasis on the renovation of buildings under local protection. Last April, the municipal assembly launched a grant program under the Built Heritage Renovation Program, providing a total fund of 200 million HUF to support residential communities and housing cooperatives.

Currently, there are 305 buildings under local protection and 130 buildings under national monument protection in Debrecen, with two buildings having received funding through the program. The historic building of the Csokonai National Theatre is not the first facility in Debrecen to earn this prestigious recognition—over the past years, the Aquaticum Water Park, the International School, and the Nagyerdei Stadium have also been awarded.