 The buildings were originally built as administrative and exhibition buildings for the Danube fair which took place in the Port of Bratislava but was in need of new, larger premises.PKO was the main location in Bratislava for organizing dance class graduations ("venček") with social dance classes being widely attended during the first half of high school in Slovakia, as well quite popular for organizing school proms ("stužková") and high-school freshmen parties ("imatrikulácie").As a result, several generations had an emotional bond with the PKO premises.