Győr MCC: exemplary modernisation in a listed building

Training centre in the heart of the city centre

The Hotel Konferencia building in Győr is the centre of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) talent management programme in Győr-Moson-Sopron County. The organisation's goal is to offer free training opportunities to as many young people as possible, which is why it is constantly expanding its talent management network nationwide.

The building is located in the historic centre of Győr, on the Káptalandomb: next to the Basilica and the Bishop's Castle. Built in the late 1970s for the Rába Magyar Vagon- és Gépgyár, it is one of the outstanding works of the period with its interior design and craftsmanship. The current refurbishment aims to make the building able to serve talent management, community life and cultural events in the city at the same time.

As previously reported reported, the building required a complete renovation of its building services and electrical networks due to technical obsolescence. Krisztián Erdei, a colleague at MCC, provided our newspaper with details of the investment.

"The renovation and expansion of the Győr centre will serve both talent management and integration into the city's cultural bloodstream"

- he highlighted.

In the first phase of the project, complete building services and electrical modernisation was carried out, with the work being performed by REAG Invest Kft. based on the plans of B5 Építészstúdió Kft.. As a continuation of the investment, the attic conversion has also begun, which will create new rooms for students. This phase is also being carried out under contract REAG Invest Kft. as a result of a competitive tendering process.

Mechanical modernisation at the finishing line

The most complex part of the works was the complete renewal of the building services system. The outdated network, which had been in operation for 48 years, caused daily operational and usage problems and was replaced by modern, sustainable and cost-effective systems.

"The new mechanical networks will make the building more cost-effective and sustainable to run in the long term"

- said a MCC staff member.

A heat pump air handler was installed during the construction and solar panels will be installed in the future. Most of the mechanical equipment is located in the basement, while the rest is on the flat roof. The large outdoor units had to be lifted in by crane: the 7.4 m long heat pump, weighing almost 6 tonnes, was moved by a 130 tonne truck crane, with strict weight and load restrictions.

The education programme is currently running in part of the building, with furniture being returned to the renovated spaces following the refurbishment, while the final interior is being completed. It is planned that MCC's educational programmes and community events will once again run smoothly within the walls of the renovated building after a period of almost a year of construction.

Narrow streets and historic environment: the challenges of implementation

Although the building itself is not protected as a historic monument, its surroundings are full of historical values. The Chapel Hill is the city's designated National Monument, where all building work must be carried out with particular care for archaeological and urban conservation reasons.

The building can only be accessed from Káptalandomb Street, which is a closed area to traffic, so special permits were required for deliveries. The narrow 240-metre-long stretch of road, with a maximum height of 3.5 metres and a gross weight of 20 tonnes, is paved with cobblestones and hides archaeological treasures. All heavy machinery was therefore operated under strict weight restrictions by experienced operators.

To ensure safety, large load spreader plates were placed under the bases of the cranes and the utility covers were protected by steel plates, and only vehicles with Euro 6 engines were allowed to make the deliveries for environmental reasons.

Preserving value and modernisation go hand in hand

One of the biggest professional challenges of the renovation was to ensure that the installation of modern mechanical and electrical systems did not destroy the original architectural and interior design character of the building. The new networks are hidden behind the wood-panelled suspended ceiling, Carrara marble tiles and wooden parapet cladding.

The complete renewal of the ground floor curtain wall was also achieved with an exemplary solution: modern insulated glazing, the use of glass lenses, the reinstatement of the original sliding shields and glass enamel decorative elements, so the external appearance of the building was not changed, while its energy performance was significantly improved.

The interior restoration work included replacing marble tiles, restoring wall art and installing modern shading solutions. In all cases, the aim was to preserve period features, while at the same time incorporating technology and comfort for 21st century use.

New possibilities with the installation of an attic

There is a strong interest in the MCC training programmes, so expanding the existing places has become essential. The next phase of the project is the construction of an existing attic, which will provide new rooms for students.

"There is a huge interest in our programmes, so we would like to give more students the opportunity to get involved" - emphasized Krisztián Erdei.

This development will not only strengthen MCC's Győr headquarters, but will also contribute to enhancing the city's cultural and educational role. The renovated building will thus not only serve as an educational venue, but also as an important venue for community and cultural life in the future.

Linking past and future

The philosophy of MCC is that the quality of the built environment contributes greatly to the identity and thinking of communities. It is therefore particularly important that the regeneration of the Győr centre both preserves the values of the past and creates opportunities for future generations.

On completion of the project, the building will be filled with life again: young people will study within its walls, scientific and cultural events will take place in its halls, while one of the most important buildings in the city centre will be reconnected to the cultural bloodstream of Győr.

The renovation of the Hotel Conference is therefore not only an architectural investment, but also a development that will strengthen the identity of the city, MCC and future generations.