Educational Center Na Karmeli

In September 2007, a new university campus was opened in Mladá Boleslav at Na Karmeli. The largest corporate education institution in the Czech Republic has a capacity of 800 students.
Škoda Auto, a. s., and the statutory city of Mladá Boleslav are jointly pursuing the project aimed at supporting the development of human resources in the Mladá Boleslav region, increasing the attractiveness of the city, revitalizing the city center, and subsequently supporting the development of business opportunities.
The university center will offer a unique opportunity for students, especially from technical schools, to gain insight into the processes that lead to the creation of contemporary automobiles. Within the Na Karmeli campus, a space for collaboration between Škoda Auto and universities will be established. As part of these activities, students from partner universities will have the opportunity to participate in teaching, engage in research and development activities at Škoda Auto, and share experiences with industry experts. Currently, Škoda Auto University provides education in the field of economics. As part of the project, the current bachelor's program was innovated, and accreditation was obtained for the follow-up master's program. A similar environment to what students experience abroad (modern, technically equipped classrooms, and multifunctional spaces) will be offered by the Na Karmeli university campus.

Situation
The educational center complex consists of several historical buildings, including the Church of St. Bonaventure, the former Piarist monastery, and the building of the convent. The church and the monastery have been renovated and will again house an educational institution after a long time. The convent building, where an integrated secondary school will continue to operate, will be modified to fit harmoniously into the entire complex.
A new construction consisting of two parts A, B will rise on the site of the former fire station.

Word from the architect
The city of Mladá Boleslav and its historical center belong to the significant cultural treasures of Central Bohemia. For Škoda Auto, as well as for our architectural office, it is a great opportunity to contribute to the renewal of this place and to become a part of it.
The educational center will uniquely connect modern constructions and historical monastic buildings in the silhouette of the hill above the Jizera River. The dominant position in the structure of the city will also become the center of cultural education. The new, modern function will revitalize monuments that are in a dilapidated state and have long been a problem for the city. The composition of the new buildings was inspired by the organically grown historical structure of the site, evident from old cadastral maps. The irregularity of shapes is characteristic of organically grown structures that have developed over centuries.
The defining moments of the new building include Komenského Square, the entrance area on Na Karmeli Street, and the view of the Jizera River valley. To achieve a pleasant scale and size, we decided to divide the building into two interconnected parts. 
In Building A, a glass atrium is designed as the main meeting place. Adjacent to this atrium are lecture halls, a café, classrooms, and offices. Building B houses laboratories, classrooms, and offices. 
In both buildings, the concept of office and classroom placement was chosen to connect the everyday lives of students and teachers. The new buildings are connected to the monastery and church by an underground passage. Here there is a multifunctional space in the church, a library, study rooms, and offices.
The architecture of the buildings aims for aesthetic timelessness, stripped of fashion trends in its forms, spaces, materials, and colors. It will provide a modern environment for education in close proximity to historical monuments.