Centuries-old historic buildings renewed in the development of the University of Győr

The buildings of the Apáczai faculty of Széchenyi István University have been renovated and made more energy-efficient, the institution announced in a press release. WEST HUNGÁRIA BAU Kft. has implemented the energy improvement of buildings I, III and IV of the János Apáczai Csere János Faculty of Pedagogy, Humanities and Social Sciences. The results of the works were inspected on 25 March by Prof. Dr. Csaba András Dézsi, Mayor of Győr.

Another in a series of major investments

The statement of Széchenyi István University reminded that in recent years, investments have been made such as the construction of the Innovation Centre in Zalaegerszeg and the Innovation Centre in Győr, the Smart Farm in Mosonmagyaróvár, or the renovation of the castle and its surroundings in óvár, the centre of the Albert Kázmér Faculty of Mosonmagyaróvár.

In addition, the university has carried out energy-saving renovations of several of its facilities in Győr and Mosonmagyaróvár in the framework of a major EU tender worth nearly HUF 7.5 billion. Among other buildings, the administrative building of the Győr campus, Building E, the centre of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, the Apáczai Faculty II building, the Bridge Student and Teacher Club, the Hotel Famulus, the post office building, the Budai út Vocational College, the External College and the Szent Imre út building of the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences have already been renewed. In Mosonmagyaróvár, the reconstruction of the C building in Lucsony Street, the canteen, the Deák Square education building and the castle captain's building were also completed. In the fourth phase of the project, which has now been completed, the energy modernisation of three more buildings of the Apáczai-kar has been completed.

Centuries-old monuments renewed thanks to the work of WHB

At the site visit on 25 March, Norbert Geszler, Project Director of WHB, presented the details of the construction. The faculty's building complex No. I is located at 42 Liszt Ferenc utca in Győr, a locally listed building complex built in the 1920s. According to the project director, the modernisation included the insulation of the façades of buildings A, B, C and D, the replacement of the windows and the renovation of the entrance door, which is a listed building. The modernisation of the building services system included the installation of a new state-of-the-art boiler.

The building at 5 Türr István Street, Apáczai-kar III was built in the 1970s. As part of the development, the façade windows were replaced, the façade was insulated, the flat roof was insulated and waterproofed and the attic was insulated. In addition, a solar panel system was installed and a number of conservation works were carried out. In addition to the boiler replacement, the radiators were fitted with thermostatic valves.

The building complex of Apáczai-kar No. IV at 10 Gárdonyi Street, which is about 100 years old, is under local protection. In the case of building A, the shear shutters on the third floor have been replaced, the attic slab has been insulated and a solar panel system has been installed, according to Norbert Geszler. The insulation of the facade of building B, the roof and all the windows and doors have been replaced. In building C, in addition to the insulation of the façade, the flat roof was insulated and waterproofed, a solar system was installed and the joints in the brickwork were cleaned.

Together, the renovation of the three buildings was worth around two billion forints.

Nearly three thousand windows and nearly a thousand radiators replaced

The announcement about the visit also quoted Dr. Attila Pongrácz, Dean of the Faculty, who emphasized that a new era began in the life of the institution with a long history in 2016, when it joined Széchenyi István University. "Since then, a number of positive changes have taken place, strengthening the faculty's visibility and development. Significant developments have been made with national, European and university funding. The internal renewal of the faculty is just as important," he said.

Nóra Mészáros, head of the Tender Directorate of Széchenyi István University, explained that since 2017, the energy reconstruction of 17 buildings of the university has been completed within the framework of the project. "In addition to the replacement of nearly three thousand windows and nearly one thousand radiators, this included the construction of about 35 thousand square metres of façade and slab insulation, the installation of a solar panel system with a total output of nearly 300 kilowatts, and the modernisation of building services systems. As a result of the energy renovation, energy savings of 18-26 percent have already been achieved, not counting the newly completed buildings," he said.

Progress has not only been made in the field of energy

On behalf of the city, Mayor András András Prof. Dr. Csaba Dézsi congratulated the implemented developments. "The Széchenyi University and the Apáczai Faculty play an outstanding role in the life of Győr, and contribute to the fact that the graduates of the University of Győr take their Győr-ness with them into the world, along with the high quality knowledge they have acquired, which is useful both in the domestic and international labour market. I would like to thank the staff of the institution for their work in strengthening the city and the region", said the mayor, who pointed out that the university is a true community of one, contributing to the development of the region.

"Our goal is to support the daily work of our staff by creating a modern environment, which will serve the quality education, quality publications and the advancement of our institution in international rankings" - said Dr. Bálint Filep, President of Széchenyi University. He thanked the staff, the contractors, the mayor, the members of the Parliament, Róbert Balázs Simon and Ákos Kara, and the government for their support in making the project a success. "Thanks to the investments, the buildings belonging to the faculty - including the newly completed Öveges Kálmán Elementary School, which was renovated last year - have not only become more energy efficient, but also beautiful. Their restored exterior is worthy of the city centre of Győr and the faculty's more than two centuries of tradition," he said.