The reconstruction of the Faculty of Arts in Brno is likely to be delayed

Brno - The planned reconstruction of the Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University in Brno is likely to be delayed. The Ministry of Education has still not made a final decision on the release of a grant from the Operational Program for Science and Research for Innovations. The school had hoped to have clarity on the grant for the 580 million crowns reconstruction by the end of 2010. It is possible that the ministry will release the funds only in the summer. The faculty urgently needs repairs.
    According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, Václav Koukolíček, the project for the reconstruction of the Faculty of Arts is recommended for funding. "The project is therefore in the pipeline and is waiting for a grant to be allocated. A decision on the provision of the grant could be made in July of this year, but that is not certain," Koukolíček told ČTK.
    The university has no choice but to wait. It is using the time before the repairs to prepare. In the Information System on Public Contracts, the school has published preliminary information about the tender for the construction part of the project. "We are doing everything we can to be ready to start as soon as possible," said the university's spokesperson, Tereza Fojtová.
    The Faculty of Arts is located in a heterogeneous complex of buildings near the city center. The hallways and classrooms of some departments look the same as they did when the parents of today's students attended. According to the project, workers are set to demolish block B2 and build a new structure in the same place. It will have six above-ground floors and two basements. These will include underground garages and a repository connected to the current library, which is the most modern part of the complex.
    Repairs are also awaiting the neighboring buildings A and B1. They originally served as a city orphanage. The faculty began to gradually utilize them from 1919 to 1923, and they have not been completely reconstructed since then. Building B2 was constructed in 1922 as a temporary structure and was supposed to be replaced by a new building within ten years. However, it remained in use until the summer of the year before last when the school had to close it due to compromised stability. Part of the faculty thus moved to temporary facilities.
    If the grant is allocated soon, the reconstruction could be completed by 2014. The construction work will bring about many changes and restrictions for both teachers and students.