The buildings of the Liberec University halted the rising prices of materials and labor

Liberec – Rising prices of construction work and materials are complicating the prepared projects of the Technical University of Liberec. The reconstruction of gymnasiums, valued at around one hundred million crowns, was supposed to start in July, but the contractor selected in the competition refused to take over the construction, and the school must therefore tender the contract again. It is similar for other construction projects that the school has prepared and secured funding for. This was stated by the Vice-Rector Radek Suchánek to the journalists today.

The university has four major construction projects planned, totaling three-quarters of a billion crowns, which it wanted to start this year. "Unfortunately, for all these constructions, we are re-tendering the contractors; it does not please us, but we are at the mercy of a situation that we cannot influence,” said the vice-rector. For example, the gymnasiums have been cleared out since May, and the school had to secure alternative spaces for students in other schools in the city, but today no one can estimate when construction will begin.

The university also prepared a complete reconstruction of building F1 on the campus. "The company that won it in the spring changed its mind and did not take over the construction, so we are tendering it again,” added Rector Miroslav Brzezina. According to him, the planned completion of building F2 fared similarly, where the project includes modifications to the last floor, raising the roof, and completing studios for the Faculty of Architecture. The school is also looking for a contractor for the extension of the boiler room, which should be the first "green" building in Liberec.

"The only thing we succeeded in this year is the footbridge to the Harcov dormitories,” noted Brzezina. According to him, the university has not made any mistakes, but due to rising prices of construction materials, contractors are refusing the contracted prices and want to increase them. However, according to the rector, the school cannot do this. "We cannot give them an open account; these are public funds,” he emphasized. Work on all four constructions was supposed to start in July. "I think we will be happy if we conclude a contract with someone by the end of the year," added Brzezina.

The University of Liberec was formed from the Higher School of Mechanical Engineering and Textile Technology and will celebrate its 70th anniversary in two years. In addition to the original faculties of mechanical engineering and textiles, four more faculties were added between 1990 and 1995 – pedagogical, economic, architecture, and mechatronics, and since 2016, the school has had a Faculty of Health Studies. In the new academic year, 6,615 students enrolled, which is 127 more than last year. With the start of the new academic year, the school introduced a new visual style.