The Faculty of History returns home, to the ❤️ of Bucharest. Restoration and reinforcement works in full swing at the University of Bucharest Palace

In the heart of Bucharest, within walls that hold over 160 years of academic memory, the University of Bucharest Palace is undergoing a major transformation. Behind scaffolding-covered façades and the constant hum of construction equipment, a new chapter is being written for one of Romania’s oldest institutions of higher education.

Efforts to reinforce and restore the building began in June 2020, following the Romanian Government’s approval of the project. After more than a year of planning, in March 2022, the University of Bucharest signed a design and construction contract with the National Investment Company, marking the start of the operational phase of the works.

“Located in the square that bears its name, the University Palace is the largest and most historically significant building in the University of Bucharest’s patrimony,” said Professor Marian Preda, Rector of the University, at the contract signing.

The project is financed through the National Programme for Public or Social Interest Constructions, managed by the National Investment Company under the authority of the Ministry of Public Works, Development, and Administration. It spans more than 60 months and has an estimated value of over 300 million lei.

Work officially began in January 2023 and includes structural reinforcement of the entire Palace, restoration of the façades and historical decorations, reconstruction of the roof, creation of a museum space dedicated to archaeological finds uncovered in the courtyard, and the installation of a modern architectural lighting system. The project has a dual aim: to provide students with modern learning spaces while preserving and showcasing the historical heritage.

Where things stand now

The building has long served as home to several faculties: Geography, Geology and Geophysics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Letters, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Chemistry, Business and Administration, and History. In total, more than 10,000 students have studied here.

At the moment, the Palace is in a transition phase. The façades are hidden under scaffolding and protective netting, and some faculties—like History—have temporarily relocated. Meanwhile, teams of workers, engineers, architects, and conservators are working non-stop to restore the building’s historic charm and ensure it’s safe and functional for a new era of academic life.

Wearing hard hats and safety vests, we visited the construction site and spoke with those leading the effort: Professor Marian Preda, PhD, Rector of the University of Bucharest; Associate Professor Matei Gheboianu, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of History—which will be the first faculty to return to the Palace on Regina Elisabeta Boulevard; and architect Mircea Căpățână. They were joined by two students: Bianca Ionică, a third-year student in International Relations and European Studies, and Darius Petre, a third-year History student.

“This is another important step for the University of Bucharest—to maintain its identity as a historic, comprehensive, traditional institution while also becoming a modern, 21st-century European university,” emphasized Rector Preda, highlighting the balance between tradition and progress that guides the entire project.

That balance also drives the technical approach, architect Mircea Căpățână explained: “The University Palace is made up of several structures: five building wings and an interior courtyard, all part of the project. When it comes to the façade, the goal isn’t to make it look new again, but to carefully clean and preserve it. A historic building needs to wear its age with pride, and the Palace is no exception.”

Looking ahead to the return to the Palace, Dean Matei Gheboianu shared his hopes: “We’re confident that the renovated building will be modern and well-equipped, and the new conditions will make the Faculty of History one of the most state-of-the-art academic spaces in the country.”

So far, most of the work has focused on structural consolidation—from the foundation, basement, and ground floor all the way up to the top floors and roof. The roof is now nearly complete and will offer strong protection from the elements for decades to come.

Once the Faculty of History is back in its home, the Faculty of Mathematics will begin a similar renovation process. As each faculty moves back in, the Palace will gradually regain its academic purpose and reassert itself as a central landmark in the city’s educational and architectural landscape.

Sitting at Kilometer Zero in downtown Bucharest, the University Palace is a focal point for several of the city’s main boulevards. With that in mind, the project team also aims to make the building’s new architectural lighting system a model for how to showcase historic façades, highlighting the structure and reinforcing its presence in the city.

But this project isn’t just about aesthetics, it also carries deep historical meaning. The University Palace, a silent witness to decades of communism, is being brought back into the light. The University Balcony, a key location during the 1989 Revolution, will be given special attention in the lighting design, not only to show off the beauty of the building, but to honor the memory of a space once ruled by censorship and fear.

“As we saw during the December 1989 Revolution and again during the protests and miners’ riots of spring 1990, it’s essential that we continuously protect our democratic values,” said Rector Preda.

Reinforcing and restoring the University of Bucharest Palace is about more than preserving an old building. It’s an investment in one of the core spaces of Romanian academic life. Between scaffolding, machines, steel, and woodwork, a future is taking shape: one that honors the past, but is ready for the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s students.