The new building of the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague will be created according to the design by ra15 and mackovič architecture

Prague – The new building of the University of Chemistry and Technology (VŠCHT) in Prague is likely to be built according to a design by the consortium ra15 and mackovič architecture. The construction costs should not exceed 1.4 billion korunas excluding VAT. The start of construction is expected in 2029, with completion two years later. This information is from the VŠCHT website.

The authors of the winning architectural proposal, selected by a professional jury, are Radek Lampa and Jan Mackovič. A total of 33 proposals from the Czech Republic and abroad, including Austria, the Netherlands, and Spain, were submitted to the competition.

"The main purpose of the new construction is to address the long-term shortage of space that hinders the scientific development of the university. Specialized laboratories and technological facilities intended for research and practical teaching will continue to be concentrated in historic buildings that are suitable for this purpose; the new building will house administration, lecture halls, and smaller classrooms," said the rector of VŠCHT Prague, Milan Pospíšil.

The second place in the competition was taken by a proposal from architects Vít Forman, Matěj Štěpánek, Tomáš Korch, and Jan Stibral. The third place went to the proposal from the studio Sadovsky & Architects. "VŠCHT Prague will now negotiate with the awarded participants regarding a contract for the preparation of documentation for building permits," the school stated. The architectural proposals will be exhibited during the spring at the Dejvice university campus and published in a competition catalog on its website.

The maximum construction costs of 1.4 billion korunas excluding VAT were set by the architectural competition. "Unfortunately, year-on-year increases in construction costs are permanently raising our implementation expenses, so we will need to seek additional sources and will not be able to avoid a bank loan," quotes Pospíšil from the Seznam Zprávy website.

The building, as part of the Fourth Quadrant development project, will connect the current VŠCHT campus and the Dejvice university campus with new developments. The design of the northwestern part of Vítězné náměstí is currently being developed based on a previous international urban planning competition won by the Czech-Dutch consortium Benthem Crouwel Architects and OV Architekti.