The public presented a plan for the establishment of a transformation center in Ústí

Ústí nad Labem - The Ústí Region today presented to the public a plan for the establishment of a transformation center in the area of the former high school. An international architectural competition will be announced for the reconstruction of several buildings on Stará Street. The establishment of the center is one of 11 strategic projects of the Ústí Region in the European Funds for Just Transition. The center will provide consulting services in energy, information technology, architecture, innovation support, and entrepreneurship. "The services will be covered in the transformation center. This is a great challenge for us, as it is the first architectural competition organized by the region," said regional councilor Iva Dvořáková. According to her, this is an opportunity to show how so-called brownfields can be utilized in cities.

The center will have four pillars: data services, area revitalization, new energy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. "Some of these services are already in operation; others will be expanding," said Jan Wedlich from the Innovation Center of the Ústí Region. According to him, a benefit for the region could be the accessibility of many data through the Portabo platform, which is already operating, better management of the landscape and settlements, and the use of renewable energy sources.

The competition will have two rounds. The winner could be known within a year. The preparation of the competition will cost 8.7 million crowns. It will be announced this summer. The aim of today's workshop with experts and the public was, according to Wedlich, to bring together everything that needs to be considered when announcing the competition and to find out what feedback and wishes experts and locals have regarding the operation of the facility.

The Innovation Center of the Ústí Region (ICUK) will move to the center, which is currently located in rented premises. "There will also be some sort of energy center for all contributory organizations. Experts will be available for municipalities to consult on applying for grants and similar assistance," Dvořáková stated. "We want to utilize all modern available technologies that will also be beneficial for users," the councilor added.

The transformation center is expected to be economically self-sufficient two years after it starts operating. The sustainability of the project is ten years. There is also a sports facility on the premises that will be used by the gymnasium on the Northern Terrace. Up to 200 parking spaces are planned, which could be used by local residents in the evenings and on weekends.

The entire area was also intended to be reconstructed by the former regional coalition led by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM). A plan was created for a craft campus aimed at supporting vocational education. "The project was practically prepared, but it lacked the support of the then opposition. We could have pushed it through, but only by one vote, and I did not want that for such a large-scale project," said former councilor for investments Ladislav Drlý (KSČM) to ČTK. At that time, ANO and ODS were in opposition, and these parties are now leading the region together with the Allies for the Region movement.