Fixed-line and mobile phone services provider Orange Romania is set to reopen the Telephone Company Palace, a landmark Bucharest building sitting on downtown thoroughfare Calea Victoriei, the company's goal being to reunite its Bucharest teams in two adjacent buildings - the modern-day steel and glass block Tandem, and the Telephone Company Palace, which was erected in the 1930s for telecommunication specialists.

"This move occurs after in June Orange announced the completion of the legal merger between Orange Romania SA (ORO) and Orange Romania Communications SA (OROC), through the absorption of OROC by ORO. The consolidated company furthers Orange's goal of becoming the preferred provider of fixed & mobile integrated services on the Romanian market, both for the household and the business segment," the release says.

Between 1995 and 2001 the Telephone Company Palace underwent extensive bracing works, and starting in 2018, the building was modernized and reinforced for compliance with the new fire safety and resistance standards. The more than 7 million euro worth of modernization works were completed in 2024.

"We are proud to have brought the Telephone Company Palace back to life and, at the same time, we are aware of the responsibility falling on us to preserve this iconic building. As it has the status of historical monument, the reopening of the Palace required a considerable effort as well as significant investments. At the same time, history compels us to innovate in order to achieve new successes here, in the place where telecommunications were instrumental for Romania's change and modernization," said Orange Romania CEO Julien Ducarroz.

The construction of the Telephone Company Palace began in September 1931. With a built area of 977 sqm, the imposing 52-m high building featured a basement, ground floor, mezzanine and 11 floors. The plans were designed by American architect Louis Seabury Weeks, and Romanian architect Edmond Van Saanen-Algi was responsible for the implementation and details.

The Art Deco building was completed in 1933, being considered at the time a real skyscraper, like those in New York. Due to its strategic importance, King Carol II attended its official commissioning, on April 24 1933.

Between 1940 and 1946 the Palace received a two-floor overbuild and was also extended on the side towards the Matei Millo - Ion Otetelesanu streets.

The Telephone Company Palace is listed as a historical monument of the Bucharest Municipality and is part of the Protected Zone No. 16 "City iconic street Calea Victoriei" subject to overall protection for architectural-urban, historical and natural environment values: the street canvas, the built heritage, the urban character and value. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Tilica, editor: Mariana Nica; EN - editor: Simona Klodnischi)