The University of Cyprus is ready to launch an architectural competition for the construction of a new student dormitory, but cannot do so because of regulations imposed by the Cypriot Ministry of Finance.
This is because the ministry recently ordered the university's management to carry out a study on the sustainability of the project and to determine the method to be used for its construction. This has caused some delays. It is not yet clear how much the originally approved deadlines will be postponed. It is known that the University of Cyprus plans to build a building for 900 students. But when construction will begin is still in question. The university administration has only said that due to bureaucratic delays, students and their families will have to rent accommodation from private individuals at inflated prices.
For its part, the Cyprus Chamber of Science and Technology (ETEK) stressed the need for the University of Cyprus dormitory project to start immediately and recommended that an architectural competition be held as soon as possible.
ETEK noted that the choice of method by which architects are selected or designs developed does not affect the cost of construction and is unrelated to its sustainability.
In its statement on the recent publications regarding the delay in the construction of the University of Cyprus dormitories project, ETEK underlined the following points:
- The University of Cyprus dormitory project should be launched immediately through an architectural competition.
- The method of selecting architects or the design approach has no impact on the construction cost and sustainability of the project. This point should be clarified in order to avoid misunderstandings that may negatively affect the quality of architectural solutions. Ignoring architectural value in the implementation of projects robs them of their vision and cultural significance.
- The process of preparing a sustainability study as part of the public investment appraisal aims to justify the rational use of resources, taking into account the social and environmental impact of each project. For projects with an important social and cultural component, such as the dormitories and other academic buildings of the University of Cyprus, it is necessary to consider their intangible value, which is difficult to quantify but cannot be ignored.
The dormitory project is an important project for the community and the University of Cyprus is ready to implement it using an approach that has been successfully applied to many significant projects.
ETEK and the University of Cyprus share the common goal of promoting architectural excellence and the optimal execution of architectural projects in Cyprus. The Cyprus Chamber of Science and Technology sees the University of Cyprus as a valuable partner in a context where architectural standards are often ignored in the construction of significant public buildings, and where quality and innovation in architecture must be prioritised.
