In line with the efforts of the Accommodation and Catering Services of Masaryk University, renovations and modernisation of three dormitory buildings – Bří. Žůrků, Vinařská a Mánesova – are almost finished. The works at the Kounicova dormitory, scheduled to take two years, are well underway.
As of the end of 2023 the Bří. Žůrků dormitory has a new step-free access with a ramp. The building will close down in May for the total replacement of furniture which comes after minor renovations of the interior in 2016. “Seven years ago we managed to renovate four floors of the dormitory complex of two 11-storey buildings. All double and triple rooms are coming up next. Students will have new tables, closets, beds and shelves. Also undergoing renovations are built-in hallway closets,” says head of the department of technical services and information technologies at SKM Jana Fillová.
The dormitory at Bří. Žůrků will have a new reception desk and roof terrace. “We will also repair the waterproof insulation and drainpipes on the terrace, thus following the 2023 repairs of the roof terrace on the rear building. The renovation which now includes wall painting and the repairs of damaged flooring should end on 15th September,” Pavel Šulák from the Infrastructure Development Office of the rector’s office explains.
Renovations at the Vinařská dormitory during the first half of the year will include the total replacement of windows, thermal insulation and façade renovation. “The works are scheduled in two stages; the first one should end in April and the second one in June. Due to the incompatibility of the cladding mosaic with the base layer the works were amended to include the repairs of the façade above windows under the roof. This should be followed by measurements and custom production of windows. Around mid-2024 new windows should be installed and the thermal insulation of the façade will be repaired,” Věra Benžová from the Infrastructure Development Office of the rector’s office says.
Scheduled to finish before summer is the renovation of the roof at the Vinařská dormitory damaged by a 2023 hailstorm. “We are working on a project for the reconstruction of the roof at all buildings and the canteen annex. It will include the replacement of waterproof insulation and roofing. Sun shading blades will be renovated at student housing buildings A1, A2 and A3,” Jiří Králík from the Infrastructure Development Office of the rector’s office explains.
Minor renovations are well underway at the Mánesova dormitory. “Last year we finished the construction work focused on the structural integrity of the building and the siding of the building. Now we are only working on the cracks in the façade and inside,” says investment project manager from the Infrastructure Development Office of the rector’s office Michaela Jabůrková.
The Kounicova dormitory will see the most complex reconstruction. It started in November and students will be moving back for the academic year 2025/26. “Everything is going according to plan. The works taking place right now include the installation of drywall partitions, masonry works and pouring of concrete for floors, as well as electrical installations, HVAC and sanitary installations,” Marcela Dvořáková from the Infrastructure Development Office of the rector’s office adds.
Increased capacity and higher chances for first-year students – that is the improved reality for students in this academic year. Even more beds will become available once the major renovations of the Kounicova dormitory are finished before the start of the next academic year, and new student housing projects are scheduled at the Vinařská complex or in the Bohunice campus.
The Security Emergency Board of Masaryk University decided on Thursday, 12 September, to carry out preventive evacuation of the dormitories at Sladkého and Bří. Žůrků in Komárov, where some students had already moved in. According to original estimates Brno was to expect 100-year flood and the situation on the Svitava River in the Komárov area was expected to include the flooding of the dormitories and power and water outages. For the same reasons and out of security concerns MU decided that the move-in day at all remaining dormitories be delayed.