Renovated Community Space Opens at Ifjúság Street Campus

The shared hall of the University of Pécs Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Faculty of Science has been renovated and was officially inaugurated on 10 September. The transformation, amounting to approximately 45.5 million HUF, was jointly financed by the two faculties from their own resources, on an equal basis. 

One of the main aims of the renovation was to make the previously multi-level central space more functional. The transformation, however, was not without its challenges: the load-bearing capacity of the existing floor structure could not be increased, and the book storage area located beneath the hall could not be emptied during the works, which had to be completed within just 60 days over the summer.

In relation to the renovation, Dr Attila Miseta, Rector of the University of Pécs, highlighted the exemplary cooperation between the two faculties: What the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science achieved together, through joint financing, is truly exemplary. Of course, this also required the support of the staff of the Chancellery and the precise work of the contractors.

During the modernisation of the 270-square-metre surface, the existing layers were removed down to the slab, which was then filled with pressure-resistant rigid foam insulation. A new heated concrete layer was added on top, incorporating modern underfloor heating. The hall’s new flooring was made from granite slabs in two different shades, with the darker shade in places featuring the university’s newly introduced logo, unveiled on 1 September. At the centre of the space, in a recessed area, visitors can see a 3D-printed, illuminated reproduction of the University of Pécs’ medieval coat of arms, placed beneath safety glass.

It is a source of joy that the performance of the two faculties – with the support of the university leadership – makes it possible for large-scale projects of this kind to be realised on this campus – said Dr Krisztián Bene, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. He also emphasised that the cooperation between the two faculties, which share common historical roots, is now experiencing one of its golden ages, a renaissance, which will hopefully be further strengthened through future joint developments. 

The renovation of the hall has not only brought aesthetic changes but has also made everyday use more comfortable and safer for both students and lecturers. Thanks to the new design, it can now be used much more effectively as a community space as well.

Dr András Trócsányi, Dean of the Faculty of Science, shared a personal story from the time when various ceremonies were still held in this hall, recalling that he himself had received his diploma here: On my way up to collect my degree certificate, I stumbled – partly because there used to be three steps here, which about 15% of the uninitiated would miss. He also recalled the history of the hall, which in earlier times was not filled with students preparing for lectures and exams, but rather with the large amount of coal once used to heat the building. Times have changed: the coal was replaced by district heating, and this has now become a new community space – the Dean underlined. In recent years, however, the lighting of the space had become restricted, the flooring had worn down, and the walls had turned dark. It therefore became necessary to renew this hall step by step, and to continue its renovation. I believe that today we are handing over a beautiful community space worthy of the faculties. 

Designers: István Pintér (architect), Ferenc Aradi (structural engineer), Gábor Loch (building services engineer) 

Contractor: Pécsi Építő és Tatarozó Zrt.

Pictures are available here