The first floor of the market at Zelný trh began to be used by the Czech Technical University

Brno – The Brno University of Technology (VUT) has acquired a symbolic showcase in the center of Brno, where it will present its activities. It also plans to popularize science and technology. It has rented a floor in the market building between the Vegetable Market and the area of the Old Town Hall. The school invested approximately 3.5 million crowns in the renovations and equipment of the VUT Market Center, said Kamila Šmídková, spokesperson for the Brno University of Technology, to ČTK.

The covered market belongs to the Brno-střed district, which opened it in 2017 after a reconstruction costing 77 million crowns. It has been rented long-term to a private operator, who, however, struggled to fill the entire facility.

"After negotiations, we managed to agree on a reduction of the lease contract, and thanks to that, we could offer the space to VUT. I believe that the new university center will bring life, energy, and a program to the market that will be open not only to students but also to the general public," stated the mayor of the Brno-střed district, Vojtěch Mencl (ODS).

"The VUT Market Center will be a space for communication between the university and the public," said rector Ladislav Janíček. The school will show people how technology enters their lives and influences society. "We live in a time of science fiction," said Janíček. Today, visitors to the market could, for example, view student racing cars, a humanoid robot, or an inflatable model of a reactor.

The new layout of the first floor was designed by architect and faculty of architecture educator Michal Palaščak, who worked on the repairs of the entire building a decade ago. "It was close to my heart, and I was looking forward to the building coming back to life. Unfortunately, the expectations at that time were not fulfilled. I'm even more pleased now that the market is coming back to life thanks to the university and also with the contribution of our faculty," said Palaščak.

The center's equipment is flexible and variable. Mobile furniture allows the space to be adapted for exhibitions, social events, conferences, or lectures. The center also includes a sales zone with publications from the Vutium publishing house and promotional items. It also serves as an information point for those interested in studying.