Work on the exterior of part of the new Biotechnological Hub of the National Institute of Biology complex, known as phase one of a major two-phase construction project, started in July 2021.
''Our goal is to make sure that construction does not disrupt research and our researchers’ work. That is why construction works have been planned as a series of two phases. In phase one, the northern part of the existing entrance building will be torn down, with the northern part of the new complex built in its place and ready to welcome our staff already in October 2022. Phase one will be followed by a partial relocation of our staff from dislocated mobile offices – housing units next to the main building. Phase two will see the construction of the southern part of the complex which is scheduled to be completed in October 2023, allowing the staff in the main building of the Bio Hub to move in the newly built offices,'' explained prof. dr. Maja Ravnikar, Director of the National Institute of Biology.
Majda Gostinčar, construction project manager, summed up the work already carried out and outlined future plans: ''As part of earthworks and concrete works, excavation work was carried out, a group of 88 12-meter long piles was driven into the ground, and the first floor reinforced concrete slab is nearly finished. In the coming months, up until August 2022, when the technical inspection of the new construction is scheduled and the operating permit is expected to be issued, the building will have windows and doors installed, and internal or partition walls built, construction trades contractors will wrap up their work and installation work will be completed. In addition, a plant nursery will be built on the roof of the northern part of the building and landscaping works will be carried out to put the final touches to the building’s surroundings. We plan to equip all offices and laboratories by the end of October 2022.’’
As the construction site is located in the landscape park covering sensitive areas of Tivoli, Rožnik and Šišenski hrib, much attention has been given to managing construction in a responsible, environment-friendly way, and to preventing the negative environmental impact of the project especially in the north-ward and north-east-ward parts where woodland edge and black alder swamp could be affected. The relevant project documentation therefore specifically identifies the necessary mitigation measures to be carried out during construction. All relevant institutions responsible for performing control and monitoring were informed of the start of the construction work. Amphibian monitoring is carried out by the herpetological association as all parties involved aim to ensure the minimum impact of the construction activities on the landscape park. Construction activities have also been planned not to affect the nearby Japanese cherry trees grove. The cherry trees were Japan’s gift to Slovenia. The landscape architecture plan, which is an integral part of the building permit documentation and the detailed design documentation, foresees a set of tree protection measures which are designed to preserve and protect tree health by avoiding damage to tree roots, trunk, or crown. The selected contractor Koling d.o.o. hired a subcontractor Tisa d.o.o. with specialists in tree protection who make sure that all necessary protection measures are carried out during construction in line with the project documentation.
The project aims to provide new cutting-edge research infrastructure for research capacity building, allowing the National Institute of Biology to harness development opportunities at home and abroad and to enhance the capacity of research to better support the economy. Better working conditions, state-of-the-art equipment, strict safety standards and high laboratory work standards will allow the National Institute of Biology to boost scientific excellence at the international level, establish an innovative environment that attracts foreign researchers, strengthen collaboration with counterparts abroad and at home, upgrade the European research infrastructure, and support national monitoring programmes.
For more information about the project, please click here
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Beneficiary: National Institute of Biology |
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Programme: Operational Programme for the Implementation of the European Cohesion Policy in the Period 2014-2020 |
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Fund: European Regional Development Fund |
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Project funding: EUR 28,546,193.81 |
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EU contribution: EUR 22,191,002.05 |