The Olomouc Town Hall is looking for a use for the former Faculty of Science building

Olomouc – The municipality, together with regional representatives and organizations that could potentially use the property in the future, is trying to find another use for the former Faculty of Science building of Palacký University in Olomouc-Hejčín. The deteriorating building has been empty for about ten years. Its transformation into a municipal archive and registry or a cultural community center is being considered. A definitive decision has not yet been made, stated Mayor Miroslav Žbánek (ANO) on social media.

"The former Faculty of Science building is one of the properties owned by the city for which we are currently seeking suitable usage. Over the past three years, we have repeatedly addressed its fate, but it remains unresolved so far," Žbánek mentioned. The building is currently only used as a training ground for the police. "Since the mass shooting in Uherský Brod nearly seven years ago, training on how to respond in similar situations has been conducted here," Žbánek noted. The tragedy in Uherský Brod occurred on February 24, 2015, when a sixty-three-year-old man shot eight people in the Družba restaurant and then himself.

According to the mayor, various institutions, organizations, as well as private developers and investors, are interested in the former Faculty of Science building in Olomouc. "However, we do not currently plan to sell it. At the moment, it serves as a kind of territorial reserve that we can use if necessary," Žbánek explained. A competition for young architects was previously focused on possible uses for the building. "Representatives from cultural and creative industries in the Olomouc region are also interested in the property, and there is still the possibility that the city may use it. We are long-term addressing the issue of lacking administrative spaces or the placement of the city’s archive and registry," Žbánek added.

The deputy governor Ivo Slavotínek (Allies-Coalition for the Olomouc Region) told ČTK that the regional government could support a project aimed at establishing a cultural-community center. "We have long perceived the need for stable facilities from some non-profit organizations in the social sector, which would provide them with long-term security and perspective. Therefore, we are looking for a suitable object for some kind of social hub, a center where these organizations could acquire stable, affordable rent for both exclusively used spaces and shared co-working meeting rooms, training rooms, or therapeutic workshops," Slavotínek stated.

According to regional councilor Jan Žůrek (Allies-Coalition for the Olomouc Region), the Hejčín district needs a meeting place, and options could include a community or culturally creative center. "This is something that we can discuss and search for solutions in the future. The demand for spaces for creative industries is substantial, and the regional capital should undoubtedly have a creative incubator or center in line with current global trends," Žůrek said.