The Jacob Graff-designed brine graduation towers in Ciechocinek will soon regain their former glory. These unique and Europe's largest wooden structures for evaporating brine water are in urgent need of modernization. Two graduation towers and the brine pumping station building will be renovated.
The Ciechocinek graduation towers are a unique technical monument on a European scale, creating a unique microclimate that attracts millions of tourists and visitors. Their revitalization will also allow better exposure of historical architectural elements.
The new face of the graduation tower
The scope of the investment includes restoration of damaged structural elements, including replacement of wooden piles and repair of foundations. The upper and lower platforms, supporting structures and brine tanks will be renovated. The graduation towers will be covered with new sloes. The historic windmill of the graduation tower No. 3 (currently out of service, years ago used for pumping brine using wind power) will under go renovation. As is the case with valuable monuments, the facilities will also be well lit.
During the signing of the agreement with the investment contractors, this is what the Voivodeship Marshal Piotr Całbecki said about the graduation towers :
[...] Their condition requires immediate intervention. Revitalization will restore the graduation towers to their function and allow better exposure of historical architectural elements. We are working on procedures and a financial mechanism that in the future will allow us to provide funds for ongoing repair work and annual restoration of deteriorating elements of the graduation towers, to avoid the situation we have now - we have taken over graduation towers that have not been renovated at all for nearly forty years.
Thorough interior renovation and new alleys
The brine pumping station building will also undergo a thorough renovation. Contractors will laya new roof and renew the facade. Inside there will be new floors and wall coverings resistant to brine. The scope of work also includes replacing electrical components and renovating three brine pumps. The area around the renovated graduation towers will be landscaped: new walking paths with rest bays equipped with benches will appear.
End of renovation in 2021
The renovation work, which began in March this year, will last until the end of 2021. The value of the entire investment is PLN 21.6 million. Implementation of the task is possible thanks to a PLN 15 million grant from the Regional Operational Program in support of the development of endogenous potentials of the province.
