An architectural competition will be announced at the Albertov campus

Prague - The construction of one of the largest investment projects in the center of Prague, the scientific Globcentre and Biocentre, has been postponed at least until 2016. Construction was originally supposed to begin last year, but the project has become outdated after years of preparation. CTK was informed by the project manager of the Albertov Campus, Lenka Dvořáková. The construction is expected to cost 2.4 billion crowns, with an additional billion required for the latest equipment.
    The project involves the Faculty of Science, the 1st Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, which are housed in century-old buildings in Albertov. Initial plans and visualizations for the creation of modern scientific centers began to take shape back in 2005, but they were never completed.
    "After all, how science was conducted a hundred years ago and how students are accustomed to working and studying has changed a lot over the past hundred years. And we are lacking many functions that the campus should have, especially the community functions, the opportunities to meet. And we have formulated that as one of the important tasks for the new buildings,” Dvořáková explained. The campus should also provide space for data processing.
    Therefore, by the end of the year, the university plans to announce an architectural competition. By mid-2015, a project could be selected, and all necessary permits would be processed, as an archeological survey must be conducted on the site, for example. "Digging into the ground" could happen for the first time in 2016; if everything goes according to plan, the centers are expected to start functioning in 2018.
    The Biocentre will focus on genetics, biotechnology, virology, neurochemistry, and other fields, the results of which will primarily be applicable in medicine and biotechnology. The Globcentre will be aimed at studying global changes, risky natural processes, and the impact of humans on the landscape. Scientists will address food and energy security, population changes, and international migration. In addition to workplaces for hundreds of researchers, there will also be space for student education in the new centers.
    Most university buildings in Albertov date back to the 19th century and do not meet technical or capacity standards. The faculties lack modern laboratories, academic offices, and spaces for libraries. Currently, on the land designated for the construction of the new centers, there is, for example, a cafeteria or a neighboring wooden building serving as a student dormitory. These will be demolished.