Czech Lípa is preparing insulation and reconstruction of the Sever Elementary School from the 1980s

Česká Lípa – Česká Lípa is preparing thermal insulation and reconstruction of the Sever Primary School built in the 1980s. A major problem is primarily the windows, through which heat escapes from the building, and the roof is also in poor condition. There are cracks in the partitions, and it is necessary to assess their statics; the access staircase is also problematic, said city hall spokesperson Kristýna Kňákal Brožová today to ČTK. The Quality Group company will prepare the restoration project.

The school, completed in 1984 according to the design of architects Zdeněk Zavřel and Dalibor Vokáč from the Liberec studio SIAL, is considered by experts to be an extraordinarily high-quality example of a school building from the 1970s and 1980s influenced by hi-tech aesthetics with elements of neo-functionalism. However, the school built for 900 students is, according to Mayor Jitka Volfová (ANO), chronically underfunded and after 40 years of operation urgently needs reconstruction. Another problem is the skylights under which the space overheats.

The aim of all the work will be to maximize the reduction of the school's energy requirements, but also to make it accessible for people with limited mobility. "The main focus for us will be the preparation of a study that will propose what modifications should be made to the school. The designers should also propose a way to manage rainwater, and all proposals for modifications will have to be consulted with architect Zdeněk Zavřel, who designed the original building," added Deputy Mayor Martin Brož (ANO).

Česká Lípa invests tens of millions of crowns annually in the repair and reconstruction of schools. Similarly extensive modifications are also expected for the Jižní Primary and Nursery School, which the city hall believes is in a similar condition as the Sever Primary School. There, the designer is already working on an introductory study that will show the necessary extent of the modifications. "In addition to these two major investments, we are also preparing several smaller repairs for the summer, such as repairs of utilities or window replacements," said the mayor.

Volfová admits that the preparation of the reconstructions of both major primary schools, Sever and Jižní, is taking a long time. "But these are large projects that need to be well prepared. We care greatly about ensuring that students in Česká Lípa schools are educated in a stimulating, safe environment in buildings that are in good condition. We are gradually managing to repair the schools, but it simply can't all be done at once, even though we would very much like it," added the mayor.