In the area of the former textile factory Perla 01 in Ústí n.O., school studios will open in September

Ústí nad Orlicí – Starting in September, students from the regional Secondary School of Applied Arts will move into part of the area of the former textile factory Perla 01 in Ústí nad Orlicí. The Pardubice Region is building studios for them there. The city is also adjusting the surroundings of the building, the regional administration announced in a press release.

"We are building a new road, sidewalks, and related elements in this area. The construction also includes drainage, concrete pavement sidewalks, and parking spaces," stated Mayor Petr Hájek (association Oušťáci). A significant element of the project is the planting of greenery, beginning with the installation of nine tree grids, followed by the planting of nine trees in the autumn. The adjustments will cost almost nine million crowns from the city budget, and this part is set to be completed by September 30.

The construction of the studios for the local Secondary School of Applied Arts, which is established by the Pardubice Region, began in June two years ago. The new building will replace the current spaces of the school on Špindlerova Street. The building will house classrooms, workshops, studios, and necessary facilities for teaching artistic fields like textile arts, applied photography and media, industrial design, model making and clothing design, graphic design, and packaging technology. It will also include two computer classrooms. The other classrooms of the school will remain in the area on Zahradní Street.

The costs for the modern building are expected to reach 180 million crowns, which includes equipment and oversight from the author and investor. Nearly 165 million will be obtained by the region from the grant of the National Recovery Plan for the revitalization of brownfields.

The former textile factory Perla 01 occupied more than three hectares near the center of Ústí. The unused area was purchased by the city for 30 million crowns in 2011. Two years later, the city hall announced an architectural competition, then issued a regulatory plan, and in 2017 and 2018, demolished production halls and other facilities that occupied more than 80 percent of the area. The city retained only a smaller portion of the land and built a House of Children and Youth there for 85 million crowns excluding VAT.