TBU in Zlín Has Started the Construction of a New FT Building
11. November 2024On Friday, 8 November 2024, Tomas Bata University in Zlín launched the construction of a new building for its Faculty of Technology with a ceremonial laying of the foundation stone. The original building, which was built on the site in the early 1930s as part of the Bata industrial estate, was demolished last year due to structural failure. A new building, designed by Ing. arch. Vladislav Vrána from Brno-based ATELIER 2002, will be built on the same site.
“The Faculty of Technology, as the oldest Zlín-based Faculty, was the imaginary cornerstone of Tomas Bata University in Zlín, and I’m very pleased to be able to ceremonially tap the foundation stone today to start this important construction. My special thanks go to the Zlín Regional Authority, whose subsidy has made this strategic investment possible for the University and thanks to which TBU students and employees will have new, modern facilities that meet today’s standards,” said Milan Adámek, Rector of TBU.
The building will have six above-ground floors and one partially underground floor. Students and staff will benefit from new teaching laboratories, seminar rooms and offices. The building will also house the Department of Production Engineering, the Department of Polymer Engineering, the Department of Physics and Materials Engineering, as well as the Dean’s Office and all of the Faculty’s administrative offices.
The challenge for the spatial solution was to be able to maximise the usable area of the building. The designers had to create spaces that were operationally functional and efficient, while taking into account the specific needs of the departments and constituent parts of the Faculty.
“A special infrastructure has been designed for the Department of Production Engineering, which is key to the planned development of engineering studies in the future,” said Roman Čermák, Dean of the Faculty of Technology of TBU. “The new U1 building will be instrumental in supporting the introduction of new degree programmes focused on semiconductor materials and technologies, as well as the degree programme entitled Radiology Assistant,” he added.
In terms of energy performance, the new building is parametrically designed in category A (extremely energy efficient) and meets the conditions of the passive energy standard. “The use of modern technologies such as energy-efficient lighting, photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, high-quality insulation of the building envelope and energy management will reduce operating costs and eliminate the environmental impact of the building’s operation,” said Pavel Blažek, Head of Investment and Property Management.
“The total costs of the project, including the supply of technological equipment and furnishings, are estimated at CZK 653 million, including VAT,” said Silvie Vodinská, TBU Bursar.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic will provide CZK 201 million of funding under the programme “Development and Renewal of the Material and Technical Base of Public Higher Education Institutions”. Another CZK 200 million have been provided by the Zlín Regional Authority as an individual grant in connection with the Agreement on Long-Term Cooperation between the Zlín Regional Authority and TBU. This Agreement was concluded in order to closely link the educational and creative activities of TBU with the strategic needs of the Zlín Region and is an expression of the intention of both institutions to systematically develop the territory of the Zlín Region and improve the quality of life in the region. At the same time, an Implementation Agreement was concluded to the Cooperation Agreement, which defines the comprehensive obligations of TBU, including the creation of new accredited degree programmes, the creation of new study places and many other things, all in accordance with the strategic documents of the Zlín Region.
Radim Holiš, the local Governor, said of the project that Tomas Bata University is the most important educational institution in the Zlín region, so also a key partner for the regional authority. “In March, we signed an agreement on long-term cooperation with the TBU’s Rector and a contract which builds on the agreement and defines the first steps going forward. They especially include degree courses newly created and initiated at TBU by us, ones considered vital to advancing the region. Some of them will be taught in the future Faculty of Technology building,” he added.
The university will pay CZK 192 million from its own resources. CZK 60 million will come from the Johannes Amos Comenius operational programme.
The construction of the building is planned to take 2 years and will be completed in October 2026, followed by the delivery of the interior and technological equipment between November 2026 and February 2027. The fully functional and equipped building will be handed over to the Faculty of Technology for permanent use by March 2027 at the latest.
Spatial parameters of the building:
- Built-up area: 38,500 m3
- Usable area: 8,330 m2
- Number of newly built lecture rooms and laboratories: 40
- Number of newly built offices: 68
- Number of newly built places for students: 540
- Number of newly built parking spaces: 53