The new research complex of the Liberec University will cost 290 million CZK

Liberec - The new research, development, and educational complex of the Technical University of Liberec will be more than a third cheaper than estimated by the designers. The building will be constructed by the Olomouc company GEMO, which won the public tender with a price of 290 million crowns, the original estimate was still 170 million higher. A total of 13 companies competed for the contract, university spokesperson Jaroslava Kočárková said today. The new building is expected to welcome students by the end of 2014.
    The new complex G is the second largest investment project in the sixty-year history of the Liberec university. The largest is the adjacent research center for nanomaterials worth approximately 800 million crowns, which is nearing completion. The university secured 423 million crowns for the construction of building G from the Operational Program Research and Development for Innovations. According to Kočárková, the funds are intended not only for the construction of the complex but also for its interior equipment.
    The project for the building with a usable area of 9,400 square meters was prepared by the Architectural Office TUL, signed by Jiří Suchomel and Jiří Janďourek. The four-story building is designed as a low-energy building and will close off the Students' Square. "It will solve our current insufficient classroom capacity, the level of equipment in classrooms and laboratories will be increased, and new spaces for doctoral students will be added," said rector Zdeněk Kůs. According to him, the university will also finally have a proper auditorium, which it currently lacks. The project also includes additional parking spaces.
    The main part of the teaching from faculties currently scattered in various parts of Liberec will move into the new building. It will primarily be used by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Science and Humanities, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Economics, and the Faculty of Mechatronics, Informatics, and Interdisciplinary Studies. The construction site will be handed over in the coming days, and the company has 610 days to complete the construction. The university is expected to take over the completed building at the end of April 2014, and work will continue on the interior equipment until the end of the year.