To the new Faculty of Science at UP, the departments and the dean's office are already moving

Olomouc - The new building of the Faculty of Science at Palacký University in Envelopa, Olomouc offers approximately 600 rooms, including modern laboratories, to students and educators. Although students will begin using it from the new semester, the relocation of individual departments has already begun. The construction of the facility started in 2006 and required a total investment of 1.08 billion crowns. This is the largest investment project in the history of Olomouc University, said UP spokesman Rostislav Hladký to reporters today.
According to UP Rector Lubomír Dvořák, the faculty has been located in as many as seven different locations throughout Olomouc in recent years, which has been complicated especially for students. "The idea of building a new facility has existed for decades, but funding was lacking," Dvořák stated.
In addition to the dean's office, 12 departments, the library, and the study department will move to the new building. "The new headquarters will allow us to concentrate the fields of mathematics, chemistry, physics, and Earth sciences in one center. We expect this step to enhance research and education," said faculty dean Juraj Ševčík. Another center is located in the Holice area. The dean admits that even the new building does not completely solve capacity problems. "It was planned ten years ago when we requested 600 rooms. Today we would ask for a third more," he said. The first department has moved into the new building, with others following in the next two weeks. Released spaces will be utilized by other faculties.
The building is equipped with modern technologies, and in addition to the association of construction companies Hochtief CZ and Tchas, 80 subcontractors contributed to the construction, employing around 1,550 workers. "The new building is environmentally friendly. During its construction, which lasted more than two years, we used the latest technologies and materials, including granite slabs imported from Brazil and tropical hardwoods," said David Horák, director of the Morava division at Hochtief CZ. The building still lacks mobile furniture, and UP must announce a competition for a public contract worth approximately 30 million crowns.
The building is located near the historic core by the university dormitories and one of Olomouc's parks. The intention to build on a significant green area in the locality has met with some public discontent. "It is a challenge to build such a large facility in the city center. We approached it by minimizing the built-up area as much as possible to preserve part of the green space. I consider it a positive that the building connects to the boulevard of November 17 and is able to stand against the disorganized construction from the 1980s," said architect Jan Hájek from Atelier M1, where the architectural design was created.
The built-up area is 4,600 square meters, with 100 parking spaces around and an additional 94 underground. The facilities include signaling for the visually impaired and hearing-impaired, as well as two platforms for disabled individuals.