The University of H. Králové is planning to expand the campus at Na Soutoku, looking for a designer

Hradec Králové - The University of Hradec Králové (UHK) is preparing further development of the university campus Na Soutoku. It is seeking a designer for the planned construction. The university received 16 million crowns from the Hradec Králové Region for the preparation of documentation for zoning proceedings, said UHK spokesman Jakub Novák today. The university area at Na Soutoku consists of three buildings and a parking lot. Based on an urban-architectural concept, UHK has already unified the property structure of the area.

The campus is located in a part of the city bordered by the Orlice River and the streets Hradecká and Sokolská. The area for further development of the campus covers 12 hectares. Estimated costs for the planned construction are six billion crowns, said UHK representatives. According to them, construction will not start sooner than in five years.

"We are at a stage where we want to connect with a quality designer as part of a preliminary market consultation, who will undertake a robust investment project together with us. The basis for further development of the campus is the processed and discussed urban-architectural concept of the area," said UHK's bursar Aleš Klicnar to ČTK.

According to him, the concept takes into account the development of UHK and simultaneously enhances a significant part of Hradec Králové as a publicly accessible space for educational, social, cultural, sports, and commercial activities, fulfilling not only university but also municipal functions. The project for additional construction in the campus also includes the involvement of a private investor.

"The intention to continue building the university campus is the result of an agreement with other institutions, with which we are preparing to sign a Memorandum of Mutual Interest among the involved parties. For example, we are counting on the establishment of a regional innovation center or a multifunctional sports hall," Klicnar stated.

The concept also anticipates the creation of a building for teaching, education, and administration of UHK, a building for the Regional Innovation Center, a multifunctional sports hall, a pair of smaller sports halls, a pedestrian bridge connecting the campus and the university hospital, pedestrian promenades with a glass passage ending in a boathouse by the Orlice River, or parking garages.

"The technical readiness of the project documentation for the entire area, or possibly its part, can be in the form of issued building permits available within three to five years. After that, a new framework for program financing from the state budget or other public sources could also become available. This means that within five years, UHK could be fully prepared to present specific proposals for the construction of individual sections of the campus," Klicnar added.

Applicants for cooperation in the preparation of individual stages of project documentation for the development of the UHK campus area can learn more about the technical specifications of the public contract on the university's website, or may register for preliminary market consultations.

UHK offers studies at four faculties: the Faculty of Informatics and Management, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Arts, and the Faculty of Education. Approximately 6,500 people, along with international students, study at UHK.