The long-forgotten building at 9 Volodarsky Street in Yekaterinburg is finally slated for renovation, with the Yekaterinburg Diocese announcing that the restoration project is nearing completion. The building, which has a rich history dating back to 1913, has been awaiting restoration for an extended period.

The diocese reports that all necessary work to preserve the building’s systems has been carried out and the reconstruction project is expected to be presented in September. However, specific plans for the building’s use after reconstruction have not yet been revealed.

Previously, there had been discussions about opening either a spiritual and educational center or a rock museum within the building. The building’s history began in 1913 as the Diocesan House, funded by members of a religious brotherhood. Later, in the late 1920s, it was rebuilt in the constructivist style and became the Profintern club, a venue for meetings, lectures, and film screenings.

Subsequently, it was transformed into the House of Culture named after Yakov Sverdlov, and even served as the first home for the Theater for Young Spectators for five years. In the 1960s, the House of Culture became a popular spot for rockers, eventually leading to the formation of groups and hosting concerts, including one featuring Viktor Tsoi in 1983.

In 1986, the Sverdlovsk Rock Club was established in the building, providing a space for numerous bands, including Nautilus Pompilius, Chaif, and Agatha Christie. The first Sverdlovsk Rock Festival was held there that same year. However, the rock club closed in 1991 due to the rise of concert cooperatives and declining public interest in Soviet rock.

Following the rock club’s demise, the building housed the Knights and Ladies troupe before falling into disrepair by the 2000s. In 2016, the building was returned to the church, with the diocese obligated to restore it by 2023, though the process has been delayed. The building’s facade still bears the inscription “Club,” a reminder of its past, and its current state is described as deplorable, with graffiti, boarded-up doors, and even a tree growing on the balcony.