The Consolidation and Restoration Works of the Palace of the University of Bucharest go in a Straight Line, with the Signing of the Design and Execution Contract

The investment requires a financial effort of 317.60 million lei and an effort of 66 months

On Thursday, March 10, 2022, in the presence of the representatives of the academic community of the University of Bucharest and the representatives of the consortium of construction companies that will carry out the works, the University of Bucharest signed with the National Investment Company the design and execution contract for the consolidation and restoration works of the Palace of the University of Bucharest.

Thus, the building located in the center of Bucharest, one of the emblematic monuments of the city, will enter into works of consolidation, restoration of the roof and frame, facades (including exterior carpentry), functional changes and restoration of interior finishes, rehabilitation of facilities, as well as the conservation and enhancement of the archaeological remains in the inner courtyard, by arranging a museum.

Through these restoration works, the ruins of the Royal Academy on which the building of the University Palace is founded will be highlighted, thus marking 328 years of educational continuity in this area.

“Located in the square with the same name, the building of the University Palace is the largest and most historic building in the heritage of the University of Bucharest. With an area of ​​over 45,000 square meters, the Palace of the University of Bucharest is not only the largest building of education in Romania, but also the most important bastion of defending the values ​​of freedom and democracy. As we can see today, as we have seen in the December 1989 Revolution or in the miners’ rampages and the protests of teachers and students in the spring of 1990, it is important to stand up for our democratic values. For 328 years, since the founding of the Royal Academy of Constantin Brâncoveanu, this area has been the cultural center of the Romanian people and Kilometer 0 of the defense of Romanian democracy and freedom. Thus, by renovating the Palace of the University of Bucharest, we pay homage, and we value all this history, too often neglected, of the struggle of the Romanian society for the values ​​of the open society”, noted Professor Marian Preda, PhD, Rector of the University of Bucharest.

The works require an effort of 66 months and will be carried out through the National Construction Program of Public or Social Interest Buildings, carried out by the National Investment Company (institution under the authority of the Ministry of Public Works, Development and Administration).

From a financial point of view, the investment amounts to 317.60 million lei, the University of Bucharest contributing with 2.37 million lei, including VAT, according to a general estimation, an amount approved by the Decision of the Senate of the University of Bucharest.

Present at the event, Cseke Attila, Minister of Public Works, Development and Administration, noted that the investment for the consolidation and restoration of the University Palace in Bucharest is “the major funding for the largest cultural and educational project that will be implemented by the Ministry of Development. The over 317 million lei allocated to this project certainly show the importance of this investment, especially since the Palace of the University of Bucharest is more than an educational institution, it is a history that surrounds us, that must be shown, preserved and exploited, not only for students and for the academic part of the university, but for all of us. Thus, by restoring the building, we will ensure optimal conditions for the students and professors, but we will also benefit from the heritage of the Capital, by preserving this historical monument.

”The restoration works are meant to contribute to the provision of modern educational areas for the students at the University of Bucharest, to eliminate the risk of degradation or destruction of the Palace and, at the same time, to strengthen the cultural, historical and symbolic contribution of the Palace to the national cultural heritage.

Vice-Rector for Development Projects, Lifelong Learning and Educational Infrastructure at the University of Bucharest, Professor Lucian Ciolan, PhD signed, together with Cseke Attila, Minister of Public Works, Development and Administration, Manuela Pătrășcoiu, General Manager of the National Investment Company, and Cristian Erbașu, General Manager of Construcții Erbașu, the design and execution contract for the consolidation and restoration works of the Palace of the University of Bucharest (photo news).

About the Palace of the University of Bucharest

Surrounded by Regina Elisabeta Boulevard and Academiei, Edgar Quinet and Nicolae Bălcescu streets, the University Palace hosts one of the oldest higher education institutions in Romania, the University of Bucharest.

Currently, the University Palace architecturally dominates the center of Bucharest, being the most important building located at Kilometer 0. The building hosts several faculties of the University of Bucharest: Geography, Geology and Geophysics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Letters, Foreign Languages ​​and Literatures, Chemistry, Business and Administration, History, and faculties’ labs and libraries. More than 10,000 students study in the building located on Regina Elisabeta Boulevard. At the same time, in the University Palace there is also the Reading Room of the Library of the Faculty of Letters, the headquarters of several Student Associations and of the Alumni Association of the University of Bucharest.

The University Palace is built according to the plans of the city’s architect and, at the same time, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Alexandru Orăscu, and is considered an architectural monument.

Construction began on October 10, 1857, and the building was officially completed and inaugurated on December 14, 1869. The side buildings of the palace were later created, between 1912 and 1926, according to the plans of the architect Nicolae Ghica – Budesti. Thus, the autonomous functioning of the faculties was achieved through two main entrances and others at the corners, marked by domes.

The six-story building was built in neoclassical style on the former site of St. Sava Monastery (16th century). The Royal Academy of St. Sava, the first high school in Wallachia, functioned inside this church.

At the time of its establishment, the University of Bucharest brought together, in a single body, the faculties of Law, Science and Letters and Philosophy, while also hosting other educational institutions: University Senate, Romanian Academy, Central Library, School of Fine Arts, Pinacoteca, Museum of Antiquities and Natural History. Over time, with the increase in the number of students, the building has become insufficient to accommodate all institutions, which is why the palace returns to its original purpose, the headquarters of the university’s faculties.

Later, the University Palace comprised a central, dominant body, and two side bodies on either side, joined together by lower connecting bodies. The sculptor Alexandru Storck also worked on the decoration of the facades of this architectural monument, making the bas-relief on the central pediment in 1862.During the 1944 airstrikes, the central body, and the works of sculptor Storck were destroyed. Later, the University regained its damaged integrity during the war years, its central body being rebuilt in a style similar to the rest of the building.

In 2017, archaeologists from the Bucharest Museum and the “Vasile Pârvan” Institute of Archeology, involved in the excavations in the courtyard of the University of Bucharest, assisted by professors of the Faculty of History, discovered old walls of over 300 years, which belonged to the old Royal Academy of “St. Sava”.